​MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers celebrated Brandon Woodruff with a bobblehead giveaway on Saturday, but the day took a difficult turn when the veteran right-hander revealed that he is headed for another anterior capsule surgery on his right shoulder, a procedure that is expected to bring his season to an end.
Woodruff spoke with reporters before the Brewers’ afternoon matchup against the Miami Marlins and said the upcoming operation is the same type of surgery he underwent following the 2023 season. He did not offer a specific recovery timeline, but his previous rehabilitation process lasted roughly 20 months from surgery to his return to a major league mound.
Despite the latest setback, Woodruff made it clear he is not ready to think about retirement or rule out another comeback.
“I’m never closing the door on pitching,” Woodruff said. “I’m getting this with the intention of rehabbing, taking care of it and being able to pitch again.”
The injury concern surfaced after Woodruff’s July 4 start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, when the Brewers removed him from the game following a noticeable dip in velocity. One day later, Milwaukee announced that Woodruff had suffered a new injury to the anterior capsule in his right shoulder and placed him on the 15-day injured list. On July 12, he was transferred to the 60-day injured list, signaling that his absence would be extended.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy said he immediately feared the worst when the team visited the mound to take Woodruff out of that outing.
“I knew, when we went to the mound, it was bad,” Murphy said. “It’s tough to come back from what he’s going to have to come back from.”
Since landing on the injured list, Woodruff has continued working with Dr. Keith Meister, the same surgeon who repaired his shoulder after the 2023 season. Meister also performed a minor procedure earlier this season to remove a cyst from Woodruff’s shoulder in early May, an issue that sidelined him for nearly two months.
Shoulder trouble has become a recurring obstacle for Woodruff, who missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing surgery in October 2023. He eventually returned midway through the following season and was effective when healthy, posting a 7-2 record with a 3.20 ERA over 12 starts. However, a lat strain prevented him from pitching during the postseason.
Woodruff said his previous experience with a long rehabilitation gives him a better understanding of what lies ahead, even if the road will be demanding.
“Thankfully, I got that perspective, which I think will benefit me for sure,” Woodruff said. “It’s not going to be easy. I know it’s going to be tough. I know what’s ahead of me.”
Before the latest injury, Woodruff had been a key part of the Milwaukee Brewers’ pitching staff in 2026. In nine starts, he went 2-2 with a 2.98 ERA, a 0.84 WHIP and 47 strikeouts across 45 1/3 innings. His performance had helped stabilize a rotation that has dealt with multiple injuries throughout the year.
Woodruff’s absence is another major blow for a Brewers staff that entered Saturday with a 3.48 ERA, the second-best mark in Major League Baseball behind only the New York Yankees. Milwaukee has remained competitive largely because of its pitching depth, but the loss of Woodruff adds pressure to a group already dealing with health concerns.
“It’s a gut punch,” Murphy said.
The Brewers are also waiting on updates regarding left-hander Kyle Harrison, another strong contributor during the first half of the season. Harrison was placed on the 15-day injured list on July 11 because of tightness in his throwing forearm. He underwent an MRI during the break and is awaiting results, though he has already started a throwing program.
With the rotation and bullpen needing reinforcements, Milwaukee moved to add pitching depth earlier in the week. The Brewers acquired right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. and left-hander Colton Gordon from the Houston Astros on Wednesday in exchange for outfield prospect Jadyn Fielder.
McCullers, who has dealt with his own lengthy injury history, was reinstated from the 15-day injured list on Friday and added to Milwaukee’s active roster. To make room, the Brewers optioned struggling reliever Jared Koenig to Triple-A Nashville. McCullers is expected to begin his Brewers tenure working out of the bullpen as the club evaluates how best to use him down the stretch.
For Woodruff, the focus now shifts from helping the Brewers’ playoff push to preparing for another grueling recovery. The 31-year-old has already proven once that he can work his way back from major shoulder surgery, and he intends to try again. For Milwaukee, however, losing one of its most reliable arms leaves a significant void as the Brewers continue their postseason chase.