Brandon Woodruff is going to miss extended time for the Milwaukee Brewers with a shoulder injury, but the two-time All-Star hurler says he feels fortunate it’s not worse.
Woodruff has been diagnosed with a mild Grade 2 subscapular strain.
Surgery will not be required, but Woodruff told reporters Saturday he’s looking at an extended absence.
“If this was something that happened midseason, All-Star break, right before or after that time, I would probably end up being done, to be honest, for the season,” Woodruff said (via Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).
“I’m not going to rush this, I’m not going to come back too early just for the sake of coming back early. That’s just not going to do anybody any good. I’m going to take my time, I’m going to listen to my body and trust the rehab process and just go through that, and hopefully come back at whatever point that is throughout the season and then try to finish up strong.”
Brewers manager Craig Counsell said the team should have a more definitive timeline after the current road trip ends next week.
The Brewers placed Woodruff on the 15-day IL retroactive to April 8, and a move to the 60-day IL could also be dated to that day if needed.
Woodruff, a possible Cy Young contender, is 1-0 with an 0.79 ERA in two starts. He was 13-4 with a 3.05 ERA (3.08 FIP) last season.
MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy pointed out Woodruff appeared to lose some velocity during his last start, a possible sign of the developing issue.
After peaking at 98.5 mph in the first inning of his last start against the Cardinals, Brandon Woodruff's velocity began to slip. "I knew something wasn't right, but my stuff was was still was still good so I didn't really know what to think of it." pic.twitter.com/ZSz5329VDy
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) April 15, 2023
