The Brandon Woodruff shoulder saga has taken a surprising turn. The Milwaukee Brewers right-hander canceled planned season-ending surgery after scans showed unexpected healing and is now pursuing a return in the postseason, MLB.com reported.
Brandon Woodruff shoulder: how the recovery has gone
Woodruff, the longest-tenured Brewer, had planned the surgery in August. After the scans, he completed a five-week throwing program and received clearance from surgeon Dr. Keith Meister to keep progressing.
On Friday, he made 75 to 80 throws out to 120 feet, then finished with 20 high-intensity throws from 60 feet. He acknowledged the odds. “I know the clock is ticking against me. But I’m trying, that’s for sure,” he said.
What stands in his way
Before he can pitch, Woodruff must work through mound sessions, recovery periods and simulated-game work, a process that would take about three weeks. That timeline means Milwaukee would have to keep advancing for him to be an option, likely as deep as the World Series.
Woodruff has missed the previous three postseasons because of shoulder injuries and is determined not to miss another. The Brewers fell to the Dodgers in the NLCS last October, as covered in our NLCS sweep recap.
What’s next for Milwaukee
The Brewers open the NL Division Series against the Padres on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. EDT. San Diego advanced by sweeping Chicago, as detailed in our Padres wild-card recap. For more, visit our MLB coverage.
