Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff threw the ninth inning of Game 3 of the World Series on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, his first game since July 4. Months earlier, he had been expected to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. Instead, an improved scan led him to cancel the operation, and the Brewers added him to their World Series roster on Oct. 23, according to MLB.com and Yahoo Sports. If you are wondering what happened to Brandon Woodruff, here is what the team and multiple outlets have confirmed.
Key facts
- Injury: Right shoulder inflammation; he went on the injured list on May 1 and again on July 5, Yahoo Sports reported.
- Surgery canceled: A planned August operation was called off after a scan showed improvement, according to MLB.com and Bleacher Report.
- Roster move: Added to the World Series roster on Oct. 23 in place of pitcher Chad Patrick, Yahoo Sports reported.
- Return: Pitched the ninth inning of Milwaukee’s 10-1 Game 3 win over Tampa Bay, allowing one run.
What happened to Brandon Woodruff
Woodruff, 33, has dealt with right shoulder problems for several seasons. Yahoo Sports reported that he had surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his shoulder in 2023, missed all of 2024 and did not return to the majors until July 2025.
This season, he landed on the injured list twice with right shoulder inflammation, first on May 1 and then on July 5, and each stint followed a start with reduced velocity, according to Yahoo Sports. MLB.com reported that his latest setback came when he walked off the mound at Chase Field in Arizona, and that surgery on the shoulder was scheduled for August. Before the injury, he had made nine starts with a 2.98 ERA, Yahoo Sports reported.
Then the outlook changed. “An August scan of his shoulder showed surprising improvement, so Woodruff cancelled surgery and started a throwing program,” MLB.com reported. Bleacher Report likewise said the planned season-ending surgery “was cancelled when he made surprising progress in his recovery.” Yahoo Sports described the issue as inflammation that “did not require another procedure.”
How he made the World Series roster
Woodruff faced hitters in a simulated game on Tuesday, Oct. 20, according to MLB.com and Yahoo Sports. MLB.com reported that he threw 23 pitches, with his fastball sitting at 90 to 92 mph, against several Brewers regulars.
The decision carried risk. Both MLB.com and Yahoo Sports reported that if Woodruff were hurt again, Major League Baseball likely would not let the Brewers replace him, because postseason substitutions are generally allowed only for injuries that are not preexisting or chronic.
“I didn’t want this to be a charity pick,” Woodruff told reporters, according to Yahoo Sports. “I wanted to be on the roster because I feel like I could help win.” On Oct. 23, the morning of Game 1, the Brewers placed him on the 26-man roster in place of Chad Patrick, Yahoo Sports reported.
His Game 3 appearance
Woodruff did not pitch in the first two games. On Monday night at Tropicana Field, he took the mound for the ninth inning with Milwaukee leading 10-0, according to Bleacher Report. He allowed one run on an infield single and an RBI double by Yandy Díaz before finishing the 10-1 win, Bleacher Report and NBC Sports reported.
NBC Sports reported that his fastball averaged 91.2 mph and topped out at 93.1 mph, and that it was his first postseason appearance since the 2021 National League Division Series. Sportsnet said Antonio Senzatela and Woodruff “finished things off in relief” after Robert Gasser’s six scoreless innings.
Timeline
- 2023: Surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder, Yahoo Sports reported.
- 2024: Misses the entire season.
- July 2025: Returns to the majors.
- May 1, 2026: First injured list stint of the season (shoulder inflammation).
- July 4, 2026: Last regular-season appearance; placed on the injured list July 5.
- August 2026: Scan shows improvement; planned surgery canceled.
- Oct. 20, 2026: Throws a simulated game.
- Oct. 23, 2026: Added to the World Series roster.
- Oct. 26, 2026: Pitches the ninth inning of Game 3.
Why it matters
Woodruff is the Brewers’ longest-tenured player, according to MLB.com and Bleacher Report. He was Milwaukee’s 11th-round draft pick out of Mississippi State in 2014, Yahoo Sports reported, and debuted in the majors in 2017. MLB.com reported that he made All-Star teams in 2019 and 2021 and has the best ERA in franchise history among pitchers with at least 500 innings. MLB.com also noted that he had missed the past three postseasons because of his shoulder.
His return comes as Milwaukee nears its first World Series title. The Brewers lead the series 3-0, and no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win the World Series, according to Sportsnet and Bleacher Report.
What’s next
Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 27, at Tropicana Field at 8 p.m. ET, Sportsnet reported. Bleacher Report said the Rays will start Griffin Jax. No role for Woodruff in Game 4 had been announced in the reports reviewed here, and his status beyond the World Series has not been announced. For more developing stories, catch the latest trending news and trends news on our hub.
FAQ
Is Brandon Woodruff injured?
He spent much of 2026 on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation, but he returned to pitch in Game 3 of the World Series on Oct. 26.
Did Brandon Woodruff have surgery in 2026?
No. A planned August surgery was canceled after a scan showed improvement, MLB.com reported.
When did Brandon Woodruff last pitch before the World Series?
July 4, 2026, according to Bleacher Report and NBC Sports.
How did Woodruff do in Game 3?
He pitched the ninth inning and allowed one run in Milwaukee’s 10-1 win.
Why was adding Woodruff risky?
If he were reinjured, MLB likely would not have allowed a roster replacement because the shoulder issue is preexisting, MLB.com and Yahoo Sports reported.
Updated October 27, 2026