Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-03 · by Steve Megargee The Associated Press
Brandon Woodruff, a pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, is considering a return from his shoulder injury if the team reaches the World Series. While he won’t be ready in time for the NL Championship Series starting next weekend, Woodruff remains hopeful about pitching in the World Series should the Brewers advance. He last pitched on July 4 and has been making progress with throwing but hasn't resumed mound work yet. Despite his injury setbacks, Woodruff is respected by teammates for his leadership and contributions to the team’s morale and performance.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-03,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Brandon Woodruff, a two-time All-Star pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, isn't ruling out the possibility of returning from his shoulder injury in time for a potential World Series appearance. He last pitched on July 4 and hasn’t been part of the team’s roster for their NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres. While Woodruff acknowledges he won’t be ready by next weekend if the Brewers advance to the NL Championship Series, he remains hopeful about being fit should Milwaukee make it to the World Series, which would mark their first appearance since 1982.
Woodruff’s manager, Pat Murphy, noted that the pitcher has earned respect despite dealing with a velocity dip during his return in late June. The team and Woodruff himself understand the risks involved but recognize the unique opportunity presented by a World Series bid.
Written for “World Series Potential Return” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee pitcher Brandon Woodruff isn’t giving up hope on the long-shot possibility he could return from his shoulder injury in time to pitch in the World Series if the Brewers advance that far.
uncertain
Brewers → give → Series
The two-time All-Star last pitched on July 4 and wasn’t included on the Brewers’ roster for their NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres.
asserted
Star → pitch → Padres
Woodruff conceded he wouldn’t be ready in time for a potential NL Championship Series that would begin next weekend, but he’s holding out hope of being ready if the Brewers earn their first World Series berth since 1982.
asserted
Brewers → concede → 1982
“How many times do you get a chance to pitch in the World Series?” Woodruff said Saturday while sitting alongside teammate Christian Yelich at a news conference before the NLDS opener.
asserted
Woodruff → get → opener
“Yeli has been playing a long time.
asserted
Yeli → play → ?
We’ve never gotten to do it.
asserted
We → get → it
It may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I understand the repercussions that could come with that.
uncertain
that → understand → that
But I’m at a point where I’m OK with it.
asserted
I → ’m → it
But he learned in August that his injury wouldn’t require an operation, opening up a remote possibility he could be ready for the postseason.
uncertain
he → learn → postseason
“I’m progressing, getting to a point where I can get off the mound here pretty soon,” Woodruff said.
asserted
Woodruff → progress → mound
“Last few throwing progressions or times out, throwing has been pretty good.
asserted
throwing → throw → ?
Just trying to get to a spot where I’m comfortable and can get off the mound.
asserted
I → try → mound
And last few, I’ve been doing pretty good.”
asserted
I → do → few
Woodruff has spent his entire big league career with the Brewers, and his 3.10 ERA is the franchise best for pitchers with 500 or more innings for Milwaukee.
asserted
ERA → spend → Milwaukee
A shoulder injury prevented him from pitching in the 2023 playoffs and caused him to have anterior capsule surgery later that year.
asserted
him → prevent → surgery
Woodruff didn’t pitch again until July 2025, and a lat strain kept him out of that postseason.
asserted
strain → pitch → postseason
Teammates say his contributions go well beyond those numbers.
asserted
contributions → say → numbers
“He’s meant everything to this club, especially to a guy like myself,” Game 2 starter Logan Henderson said.
asserted
Henderson → mean → myself
“You wouldn’t know that he’s hurt by the way he carries himself in the clubhouse and in the dugout.
asserted
he → know → dugout
I’ve learned so much from him this year, especially the last few months.
asserted
I → learn → him
He works his tail off every single day.
asserted
He → work → tail
I know he’s trying to get back right now.
asserted
he → know → ?
So he makes our team better, even when he’s not pitching.”
asserted
he → make → ?
Woodruff went on the injured list in early May after a reduction in his velocity caused him to leave a game in the second inning.
uncertain
him → go → inning
He returned in late June and he dealt with another velocity dip during a July 4 start at Arizona and hasn’t pitched since.
“He’s earned so much respect because most of these guys don’t know the old Woody, they don’t know the guy that stood there pumping high 90s and attacking,” manager Pat Murphy said.
asserted
Murphy → return → 90s
But they know what they’ve seen when he’s pitched for us at 92 like he’s got 99 and very effective.
asserted
he → know → 99
“That’s the beauty of what Woody has done.
asserted
Woody → ’ → what
He’s been super effective with whatever’s coming up, and they see that and they (have) respect for it.
asserted
they → come → it
So his words matter in there.”
asserted
words → matter → ?
Although the Brewers are making their eighth playoff appearance in nine years, Woodruff’s last postseason appearance came back in 2021.
asserted
appearance → make → 2021
“Things still have to go right for me leading up to this,” Woodruff said.
asserted
Woodruff → have → this
“The team has to play great.
asserted
team → have → ?
We’ve got to put ourselves in that position.
asserted
We → get → position
But I’m at least going through the proper steps to try to give myself an opportunity.
asserted
I → go → opportunity
And obviously the clock’s ticking here with the amount of days.
asserted
clock → tick → days
“But I always have a belief that I can get guys out at any moment, and I think that will never leave me.”
asserted
that → have → me
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