Brewers’ Brandon Woodruff says he won’t need to undergo shoulder surgery

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff has announced he will not need surgery for his latest shoulder injury. This is a significant change from his original plan, which involved undergoing anterior capsule surgery. Woodruff, a two-time All-Star, has previously dealt with multiple arm issues and previously underwent a similar procedure in October 2023.

Woodruff stated that scans taken four weeks after his injury showed improvement, leading to his decision to avoid surgery. The recommendation came after consulting with Dr. Keith Meister, who performed the 2023 procedure. While avoiding surgery means Woodruff could return sooner than before, he still faces a lengthy recovery process.

Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy expressed cautious optimism about Woodruff's chances of pitching this season, noting that the prospect remains unlikely. Woodruff has pitched 3.10 ERA in his career, the best in franchise history for a player who has pitched at least 500 innings. He is 2-2 with a 2.98 ERA in nine starts this year.

Outfielder Sal Frelick, who has been dealing with a right shoulder strain, is expected to return for the Brewers' series against the New York Mets starting Tuesday.