Brandon Woodruff

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Brandon Woodruff

|image = Brandon Woodruff checks a runner, March 25, 2019 (cropped).jpg

|caption = Woodruff with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019

|team = Milwaukee Brewers

|number = 53

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|2|10}}

|birth_place = Tupelo, Mississippi, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 4

|debutyear = 2017

|debutteam = Milwaukee Brewers

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2023 season

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 46–26

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 3.10

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 788

|teams =

Milwaukee Brewers ({{mlby|2017}}–{{mlby|2023}})

| awards =

2× All-Star (2019, 2021)

}}

Brandon Kyle Woodruff (born February 10, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Career

Woodruff attended Wheeler High School in Wheeler, Mississippi, and was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the fifth round of the 2011 MLB draft out of high school. He did not sign with the Rangers and attended Mississippi State University to play college baseball.{{cite web |last=Stevens |first=Matthew |date=February 10, 2014 |title=MSU Media Day: Woodruff ready to make statement for Bulldogs |url=https://cdispatch.com/sports/msu-media-day-woodruff-ready-to-make-statement-for-bulldogs/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=The Dispatch}} In 2014, his junior season, he went 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA in 37 innings.{{Cite web |last=Bonner |first=Michael |date=2014-06-07 |title=Brandon Woodruff selected early on day 3 of draft |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/mississippistatesports/2014/06/07/msu-brandon-woodruff-draft/10165741/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=The Clarion-Ledger |language=en-US}} In 2012, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|url=http://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=318464 |title=#26 Brandon Woodruff - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |access-date=September 25, 2019}} After his junior year he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 11th round of the 2014 MLB Draft.

Woodruff made his professional debut that year with the Helena Brewers and spent the whole season there, going 1–2 with a 3.28 ERA in 14 games (eight starts). He pitched 2015 with the Brevard County Manatees, compiling a 4–7 record and 3.45 ERA in 21 games (19 starts), and started 2016 there. In May, he was promoted to the Biloxi Shuckers.{{cite web |last=Magee |first=Patrick |date=2016-05-17 |title=Cowbell call-up: Former Mississippi State pitcher Woodruff promoted to Shuckers |url=https://www.sunherald.com/sports/mlb/biloxi-shuckers/article78188412.html |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Sun Herald}}{{cite web |last=Lowery |first=Logan |date=June 26, 2016 |title=Woodruff getting adjusted to Double-A | Mississippi State |url=https://www.djournal.com/sports/college/mississippi-state/woodruff-getting-adjusted-to-double-a/article_c660d683-100e-5bc2-bb7f-d1750a84ac02.html |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=djournal.com}} In July, his brother died following an ATV accident.{{cite web |last=Magee |first=Patrick |date=2016-07-18 |title=Brother of Shuckers pitcher dies after ATV accident |url=https://www.sunherald.com/sports/mlb/biloxi-shuckers/article90296697.html |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Sun Herald}}{{cite web |last=Briggeman |first=Brent |date=April 5, 2017 |title=Sky Sox pitcher Brandon Woodruff ready to move on from tragic summer |url=https://gazette.com/sports/sky-sox-pitcher-brandon-woodruff-ready-to-move-on-from-tragic-summer/article_e14e4a37-9778-59e1-8204-517ce6c30971.html |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Colorado Springs Gazette}} In his first start since his brother's death, Woodruff threw six shutout innings allowing one hit with nine strikeouts as well as hitting a home run.{{cite web |last=Burke |first=Mack |date=2016-07-25 |title=Grieving Milwaukee Brewers righty Brandon Woodruff delivers emotional gem for Biloxi Shuckers |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-191537920 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160726133535/https://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20160724&content_id=191537920&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb |archive-date=2016-07-26 |access-date= |url-status=live |website=Minor League Baseball}} Woodruff ended 2016 with a combined 14-9 record and 2.68 ERA in 28 starts between both teams.{{cite web |author=Dykstra |first=Sam |date=February 3, 2017 |title=Toolshed: Woodruff works into Brewers' core |url=https://www.milb.com/news/toolshed-woodruff-works-into-brewers-core-214995466 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Minor League Baseball |publisher=}}

= Milwaukee Brewers =

== 2017 ==

Woodruff started the 2017 season playing with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. The Brewers promoted Woodruff to the major leagues on June 13. However, he injured himself warming up and was placed on the disabled list. The Brewers recalled Woodruff to make his debut on August 4.{{Cite web |last=Rosiak |first=Todd |date=2017-06-13 |title=Brewers call up another top prospect in Brandon Woodruff |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2017/06/13/brewers-call-up-another-top-prospect-brandon-woodruff/392184001/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Journal Sentinel |language=en-US}} He was optioned back to Colorado Springs on August 20 and recalled once again on September 1. In eight starts for Milwaukee, he was 2–3 with a 4.81 ERA, and in 16 starts for Colorado Springs he pitched to a 6-5 record and 4.30 ERA.{{cite web |title=Brandon Woodruff Stats, Highlights, Bio |url=https://www.milb.com/player/brandon-woodruff-605540#/career/R/pitching/2018/ALL |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Minor League Baseball}}

== 2018 ==

MLB.com ranked Woodruff as Milwaukee's third-best prospect going into the 2018 season.{{Cite web |last=Rosenbaum |first=Mike |date=2018-02-22 |title=Hiura headlines new-look Brewers Top 30 Prospects list |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/brewers-2018-top-30-prospects-led-by-hiura-c266884172 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} He began 2018 with Milwaukee but was optioned to Colorado Springs in early April. During the 2018 MLB regular season, Woodruff pitched in 19 games, starting 4, for 42.1 innings. He had a 3.61 ERA and a WHIP of 1.81.{{Cite web |title=Brandon Woodruff Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodrbr01.shtml |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

He opened Game 1 of the NLDS against the Colorado Rockies, pitching three scoreless innings in the Brewers' eventual 3–2 win. In Game 1 of the 2018 National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Woodruff hit a home run off of Clayton Kershaw. He became the 22nd pitcher and the 3rd relief pitcher in postseason history to accomplish the feat.{{cite web|first1=Matt|last1=Kelly|first2=Manny|last2=Randhawa|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/pitchers-who-have-homered-in-mlb-postseason/c-297733838|title=Every pitcher who went deep in postseason|website=MLB.com|date=October 13, 2018|access-date=October 13, 2018}}{{cite web|first=Joe|last=Trezza|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/brandon-woodruff-hits-home-run-off-kershaw/c-297725074|title=Woodruff's rare HR comes with extra emotion|website=MLB.com|date=October 13, 2018|access-date=October 13, 2018}} Woodruff pitched in 4 postseason games, pitching 12.1 innings, with a 2.19 ERA, and a 0.81 WHIP, going 1-1 in his first career postseason run.{{Cite web |title=Brandon Woodruff Stats, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/brewers/player/brandon-woodruff-605540 |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}

File:Brandon Woodruff MLB All-Star Red Carpet Parade (48266122497) (cropped).jpg red carpet parade]]

== 2019 ==

In 2019, Woodruff became a full-time starter, pitching in 22 games with an 11–3 record and a 3.62 ERA with 143 strikeouts in {{frac|121|2|3}} innings. He was named to the 2019 MLB All-Star Game,{{Cite web |last=Schnabl |first=John |date=October 30, 2019 |title=Brewers: Brandon Woodruff 2019 Season Report Card |url=https://reviewingthebrew.com/2019/10/30/brewers-woodruff-2019-report-card/ |website=Reviewing the Brew}} replacing an injured teammate, reliever Josh Hader.{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Matt |date=July 7, 2019 |title=Woodruff, Tanaka, Vazquez, Gray join ASG rosters |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/tanaka-vazquez-woodruff-are-all-stars |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} In the exhibition, Woodruff gave up one run, one single, and one walk, getting two outs on a double play.{{Cite web |title=2019 All-Star Game Box Score, July 9 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/2019-allstar-game.shtml |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He started the Wild Card Game, pitching four innings with his only blemish a home run hit by Trea Turner. The Brewers lost to the eventual World Series champion Washington Nationals, with Hader taking the loss and a blown save.{{Cite web |title=2019 National League Wild Card (NLWC) Game 1, Milwaukee Brewers vs Washington Nationals: October 1, 2019 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WAS/WAS201910010.shtml |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

== 2020 ==

In the shortened 60-game season, Woodruff started in 13 games, tied for the most in the National League, going 3–5 with a 3.05 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He had 91 strikeouts in 73.2 innings, while only walking 18. For the second year in a row, Woodruff started for the Brewers in a Wild Card game, Game 2 of the Wild Card Series, going {{Fraction|4|2|3}} innings and allowing 3 runs and 5 hits. The Brewers again lost in the Wild Card round to the team that won the World Series, this year the Dodgers.

== 2021 ==

Woodruff pitched in a career-high 30 games while having a career-high in strikeouts (211), ERA (2.56), WHIP (0.96), and opponent batting average (.200), earning him his second career all-star appearance and helping the Brewers win the 2021 NL Central Division. In 2 playoff games Woodruff pitched 7.1 innings, giving up 6 hits and 3 runs while striking out 8.{{Cite web |title=Brandon Woodruff Stats, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/brewers/player/brandon-woodruff-605540 |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}

== 2022 ==

Woodruff had another good season in 2022 going 13-4 in 27 games, pitching 190 innings and striking out 190 batters. He had an ERA of 3.05, a WHIP of 1.07 and an opponent batting average of .215. This would be the first season Woodruff would miss the postseason in his career.

== 2023 ==

On January 13, 2023, Woodruff signed a one-year, $10.8 million contract with the Brewers, avoiding salary arbitration.{{cite news |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/01/brewers-brandon-woodruff-avoid-arbitration.html|title=Brewers, Brandon Woodruff Avoid Arbitration |last=Franco |first=Anthony |work=MLBTradeRumors.com |date=January 13, 2023 |access-date=January 13, 2023}} Woodruff made two starts for Milwaukee, posting an excellent 0.79 ERA before he was placed on the injured list with shoulder tightness.{{Cite web|title=Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Headed for injured list|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/brewers-brandon-woodruff-headed-for-injured-list-866703/|access-date=2023-05-18|website=cbssports.com|date=April 11, 2023 |language=en}} On April 15, Woodruff was diagnosed with a sub-scapular strain in his throwing shoulder.{{Cite web|title=Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Diagnosed with sub-scapular strain|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/brewers-brandon-woodruff-diagnosed-with-sub-scapular-strain/|access-date=2023-05-18|website=cbssports.com|date=April 15, 2023 |language=en}} On May 15, he was transferred on the 60-day injured list. He was activated on August 6 to make a start against the Pittsburgh Pirates.{{Cite web|title=Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Activated for Sunday's start|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/brewers-brandon-woodruff-activated-for-sundays-start/|access-date=August 10, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=August 6, 2023 |language=en}} He pitched the first complete-game shutout of his MLB career in a 12–0 home win over the Miami Marlins on September 11.[https://www.mlb.com/brewers/news/brandon-woodruff-throws-complete-game-shutout-vs-the-marlins McCalvy, Adam. "Woodruff throws 1st career complete-game shutout," MLB.com, Monday, September 11, 2023.] Retrieved September 12, 2023. On October 13, it was announced that Woodruff underwent right shoulder surgery to repair his anterior capsule, expecting him to miss most of the 2024 season.{{Cite web |last=McCalvy |first=Adam |date=2023-10-13 |title=Woodruff has right shoulder surgery; next season in doubt |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/brandon-woodruff-has-right-shoulder-surgery |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=mlb.com}} Woodruff was non-tendered by the Brewers following the 2023 season.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-17 |title=Brewers Non-Tender Brandon Woodruff |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/brewers-non-tender-brandon-woodruff.html |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}

== 2024 ==

On February 21, 2024, Woodruff re-signed with the Brewers on a two-year deal with a mutual option for a third year.{{cite news |last1=Sanchez |first1=Jesse |title=Brewers bring back injured ace Woodruff on 2-year deal |url=https://www.mlb.com/brewers/news/brandon-woodruff-brewers-free-agent-contract |access-date=February 22, 2024 |publisher=MLB.com |date=February 21, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Rosiak |first1=Todd |title='Everybody loves Woody': Brewers, Brandon Woodruff make two-year deal official |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2024/02/21/milwaukee-brewers-brandon-woodruff-make-two-year-deal-official/72674663007/ |access-date=February 22, 2024 |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=February 21, 2024}}

Personal life

Woodruff is married to Jonie Woodruff. They have one daughter together.{{cite web | title=Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff and wife Jonie welcome baby girl named Kyler | website=CBS58 | date=2020-09-01 | url=https://www.cbs58.com/news/brewers-pitcher-brandon-woodruff-and-wife-jonie-welcome-baby-girl-named-kyler | access-date=2025-03-31}}