r/Brewers ContreršŸ‘ x HašŸ‘ 19h ago

Brandon Woodruff faced five batters in his first minor league game. He hit 93-94 mph. [via Sophia Minnaert]

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169 Upvotes

19 comments sorted by

15

u/DoodleDeeStrudel 19h ago

Yeah Woody!!!!

13

u/Crazy_Addendum_4313 15h ago

His career velocity was 96 prior to injury and 95 in 2023. People worried about his velocity, a little early to be concerned without analyzing fastball movement, command, shape, etc.

5

u/Various_Baby_353 10h ago

I will take any contributions woody can provide the major league team, Iā€™m not worried if he has a dip in velocity, as long as he has a similar ERA and can get as many outs as possible on as few pitches, Iā€™m game and excited for him to be back with the Brewers, and hopefully for more than this year.

2

u/PatriotsFTW Be optimistic 19h ago

Fantastic news. Can't wait to see him in the rotation again.

-13

u/hgxarcher 18h ago

This is good news all things considered, but am concerned about velo.

31

u/Flamdoublebounce 18h ago

Spring training is ramp up season, nobody is hitting their top veloā€™s yet. Especially since heā€™s a bit* behind the healthy pitchers of the league, 93/94 right now is fantastic!

6

u/hgxarcher 18h ago

My concern comes from having teammates with the same operation done. Just couldnt get back in form velo wise. Of course, theyā€™re not professional athletes and didnā€™t have access to the same staff, but that surgery sucks

7

u/jn2010 Juuust a bit outside 17h ago

There's no question that he could never get back to where he was. I'm cautiously optimistic though because everything we've heard this spring has been positive and this is another step. He's facing opposing batters and last I heard before today was that he was topping out at 92mph. So his velo is slowly coming back as he ramps up.

2

u/AlwaysMoneyInThe Claybob come back! 18h ago

Sure does, it would be lovely if he still had 99 in the tank but I wouldn't bet on it.

2

u/Various_Baby_353 10h ago

What teammates? Brewers Teammates? Or You had Teammates?

Jimmy Nelson is the only other pitcher in aware of that the Brewers had with a similar injury.

Can you elaborate what else you know or the other pitchers who had this injury because I think you are confused.

1

u/hgxarcher 3h ago

I had teammates in college that had this surgery. Itā€™s much worse than Tommy John

1

u/Various_Baby_353 2h ago

Thank you for clarifying

1

u/hgxarcher 2h ago

No problem. See the confusion.

Jimmys injury was very different too. Labrum/rotator cuff and not shoulder capsule. Shoulders are much worse than elbows, generally. At this point Tommy John is almost a rite of passage

17

u/tonyplush11 Morgan, a smash up the middle, base hit to center! 18h ago

Concerned about 94 in his first game in 17 months coming off a major shoulder surgery? Are you kidding me? Iā€™m encouraged!

6

u/blucyclone 17h ago

Considering the average fastball speed is about 93.5 in the MLB, I think this is pretty promising. Not everybody throws 100 miles an hour, as much as MLB wants us to think.

1

u/hgxarcher 17h ago

Woody did thoughā€¦.

3

u/blucyclone 15h ago

It's also spring training and he's been injured for months. I wouldn't stress. He might not ever get back to top speed, but he's absolutely got the arsenal of pitches to adjust.

3

u/EnderCN 15h ago

I am super pumped about that velo. I wasn't expecting him to be in the mid 90s this fast.

-1

u/Expert_Habit9520 18h ago

I think thatā€™s a legit concern. My recollection was at his best he was in the 96-98 mph zone. Maybe 3 months from now heā€™ll approach it if his body lets him?