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Brewers' Woodruff Exits, MRI Clean, Returns Weeks

5/1/2026

Summary

Brandon Woodruff Exits

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff left his start against the Arizona Diamondbacks after his fastball velocity fell from 92-93 mph to the mid-80s.
Woodruff said his arm felt dead, prompting manager Pat Murphy to describe it as a dead arm with no injury.
He underwent an MRI to rule out structural damage, with a clean scan potentially limiting his recovery to a few weeks before rejoining the rotation.

Summary

Woodruff Tendered Offer

The Brewers tendered right-hander Woodruff a qualifying offer after trading Freddy Peralta, signaling a strong commitment.
Woodruff posted a 3.77 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 23 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings over five starts.
Logan Henderson, now in Triple-A, is expected to fill Woodruff’s spot in the rotation.
At 33, Woodruff has not pitched 100 innings since 2022 and missed 2024 after shoulder surgery, creating availability uncertainty.

Summary

Woodruff Re-signs

Woodruff accepted a $22,025,000 qualifying offer, staying with Milwaukee after shoulder surgery and a lat strain.
His 3.13 career ERA is the best in Brewers history among pitchers with at least 500 innings.
Catcher William Contreras said Woodruff knows where he’s placing the ball even when his arm feels dead.
Fantasy baseball analysts warned that Woodruff’s sudden velocity drop could sharply cut his projected points in coming weeks.

Summary

Woodruff Speed Dip

Woodruff’s cutter slowed to 83.8 mph on April 30, well below his season-average in the upper 80s.
His changeup fell from an 83 mph average to 78.9 mph in the same outing.
Strikeout production has not returned to pre-injury levels, leaving his re-worked arsenal less dominant despite a 3.77 ERA through five games.
Manager Pat Murphy emphasized long-term health over immediate rotation needs after Woodruff’s major shoulder reconstruction following the 2023 season.

History

Historical Context

Mark Prior’s 2004 shoulder surgery signaled the vulnerability of high-velocity pitchers and spurred MLB clubs to reevaluate rotation health strategies. Two decades later, Brandon Woodruff’s 2024 velocity drop and qualifying offer illustrate how teams now prioritize long-term durability over immediate depth. Shoulder procedures still carry roughly a 5 % complication rate.

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Brandon Woodruff Exits

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff left his start against the Arizona Diamondbacks after his fastball velocity fell from 92-93 mph to the mid-80s.
Woodruff said his arm felt dead, prompting manager Pat Murphy to describe it as a dead arm with no injury.
He underwent an MRI to rule out structural damage, with a clean scan potentially limiting his recovery to a few weeks before rejoining the rotation.

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