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MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brandon Woodruff has been named to the Milwaukee Brewers' World Series roster despite not having pitched in a game for over three months. The right-hander took the roster spot of Chad Patrick on Milwaukee's 13-man pitching staff as the Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays finalized their World Series rosters on Friday, prior to Game 1 in Milwaukee.
This marks the latest chapter in a remarkable comeback for Woodruff, a two-time All-Star who had anticipated season-ending shoulder surgery this past summer. Instead, the 33-year-old now has an opportunity to pitch in the World Series for the first time in his career.
"It would mean a ton," Woodruff said Thursday about the possibility of being on the World Series roster. "This is why I play. The playoffs are my jam, per se. I love this time of year. I love pitching in the big moments. I just kind of feel like I'm ready for this."
Woodruff was placed on the injured list in early May after a drop in his velocity caused him to exit a game in the second inning. He returned in late June but experienced another velocity dip during a July 4 start at Arizona and has not pitched since. He had expected to undergo anterior capsule surgery, a procedure similar to one he had three years ago. However, Woodruff later learned the surgery would not be necessary, and he has been working toward a return ever since, hoping to pitch again in October. He reported feeling good after throwing 23 pitches in a live batting practice session on Tuesday.
Even so, the move represents a significant gamble for the Brewers. A club may request permission from the commissioner to replace a player on the active roster for the remainder of a series if he sustains an acute, non-chronic injury or ailment (not recurring soreness over time). That means the Brewers could not fill Woodruff's spot if he is included on the roster and suffers a recurrence of the shoulder issue.
Woodruff's 3.10 career ERA is the best in Brewers history among pitchers who have thrown at least 500 innings for the team. Despite dealing with velocity drops this season, he went 2-2 with a 2.98 ERA in nine starts. In eight career playoff appearances, he has a 1-3 record and a 3.18 ERA. Although the Brewers have reached the postseason eight times in the last nine seasons, Woodruff's last playoff appearance came back in 2021 due to various injuries. He underwent shoulder surgery in the fall of 2023 and did not pitch again until July 2025. A lat strain prevented him from pitching in last year's playoffs.
"Obviously this is a guy that's one of the most successful, dominant big-game pitchers I've ever been around," Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said Thursday while discussing the uncertainty surrounding Woodruff's situation. "And there are also some rule constraints that we're having to work through with the health, et cetera, that have to be a consideration because he hasn't pitched in a game since July 4. A lot of unknowns there, but obviously the good version of that guy is somebody you'd love to have on your roster."
Patrick had been on Milwaukee's roster for their NL Division Series victory over the San Diego Padres and their NL Championship Series sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he did not pitch in either series. Patrick went 9-4 with a 3.40 ERA during the regular season.
Tampa Bay adjusted its pitching roster by including left-hander Garrett Cleavinger instead of right-hander Brody Hopkins. The Rays have the same roster they used for their AL Division Series victory over the New York Yankees. Hopkins had taken Cleavinger's spot for Tampa Bay's AL Championship Series matchup with the Cleveland Guardians. Although Cleavinger was on the ALDS roster, he did not pitch in that series.
Originally reported by local10.