MILWAUKEE -- Brandon Woodruff, who hasn't pitched in a game in 3½ months to a shoulder injury, was added to the Milwaukee Brewers' World Series roster in advance of Game 1 at American Family Field on Friday.
"I care about one thing, and that's winning," Woodruff said Thursday, before he knew the outcome of the Brewers' roster choices. "I know it's not an easy decision. Everything had to work out perfectly just to even have a shot at getting to this point."
Woodruff replaced righty Chad Patrick from the NLCS roster, leaving the Brewers once again with 13 pitchers and 13 position players heading into their matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Woodruff, 33, is the longest-tenured member of the National League champions. He hasn't pitched in a game since July 4, when he exited an outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks with what was later diagnosed as an inflamed right shoulder -- the latest in a series of injuries that have plagued the righty in recent years.
Soon after, Woodruff told reporters he would undergo his second surgery in four years -- one that almost certainly would end his 2026 season. However, before undergoing the procedure, imaging showed enough healing to the point that Woodruff was cleared to start a throwing program.
That began a two-month rehabilitation process that culminated in Friday's announcement.
"Getting to the point where I'm at now was all I could ask for," Woodruff said. "It went as good as it could have gone. I've probably made their decision a little bit harder, which is a good problem for them. I'm lucky."
Woodruff's fastball velocity, which had dipped to 87 miles per hour on July 4, was reportedly at 92-93 mph during a simulated game earlier this week.
"This is a guy that's one of the most successful, dominant big-game pitchers I've ever been around," Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said.
While Woodruff's stuff appeared to be game ready, the decision to add him to the roster was not clear cut because of MLB rules around adding and subtracting players during a postseason series. Players that suffer new injuries can be replaced, so if Woodruff were to suffer a recurrence of his shoulder injury, the Brewers might have to play a player short.
"There are also some rule constraints that we're having to work through," Arnold said.
The ultimate decision to add Woodruff will add a boost to a Brewers clubhouse that hardly needs one after a franchise-record 103 wins in the regular season and a 7-1 start to their postseason.
He first joined the Brewers in 2017, one year before team captain Christian Yelich was acquired by the club. Injuries have always been an issue, but he's a two-time All-Star and finished fifth in 2021 NL Cy Young balloting.
Before his injury in July, he posted a 2.98 ERA over nine starts. More than the production though, Woodruff has become a veteran touchstone for the talented Brewers pitching staff, they youngest in baseball this season.
"Big Woo is an awesome human being," Brewers Game 1 starter Jacob Misiorowski said. "He's in there every day working."
The Rays will stick with 12 pitchers and 14 hitters, as they did during the American League Championship Series. The only change was the decision to replace righty reliever Brody Hopkins with lefty Garrett Cleavinger.
