Brandon Woodruff's untimely fluke injury has Brewers fans on edge

You have got to be kidding me. After more than a year and a half away from MLB and a near return a few weeks ago, Brandon Woodruff has seemingly sustained another untimely injury. While making what was supposed to be his final rehab start of a lengthy rehab assignment that was prolonged by a surprising ankle tendinitis diagnosis on May 12, Woody was hit with a 108 MPH line drive off the bat of Cade Bunnell of the Gwinnett Stripers. He exited the game after tossing just 12 pitches, almost guaranteeing that he will need at least one more rehab start before joining the major league roster.

It's an absolutely devastating development for Woodruff and Brewers fans everywhere. The Brewers have been extra careful with Woody in his return to MLB, checking every box twice before allowing him to return to a big league mound. However, that caution may be coming back to bite them as Woody has now endured multiple avoidable injuries while pitching in the minor leagues.

Brandon Woodruff exits final rehab start after being hit with a line drive in his pitching arm

The last time Brandon Woodruff pitched in a major league game was on September 23, 2023. Since then, he's had a major shoulder surgery, a lengthy rehab process, and now two freak injuries during his rehab assignment in the minor leagues. MLB.com Brewers beat reporter Adam McCalvy confirmed that Woodruff will return to Milwaukee for X-rays on his throwing arm before the team makes a decision on his future.

Woodruff has worked incredibly hard to get back to a place where he feels comfortable in his shoulder and his altered repertoire of pitches. To endure another setback while on the cusp of his long-awaited return is just a terrible development for the 2x All-Star.

Despite Woody's injury, the Brewers have plenty of options at the starting pitcher position, with exciting prospects Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson waiting in the wings in Triple-A. Even still, it's hard to overestimate the impact that Woody's return to MLB will have on the Brewers. His presence alone is enough to inject even more life into a ball club that has won eight straight contests.