Brandon Woodruff Bio
Brandon Kyle Woodruff (born February 10, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2017 and has been selected to the MLB All-Star Game twice, in 2019 and 2021. A starting pitcher known for his strikeout ability, Woodruff is widely regarded as one of the top arms in the Brewers’ rotation during his prime years.
Born in Wheeler, Mississippi, Woodruff rose from small-town high school baseball to the major leagues after being drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers. Over the course of his career he has battled back from significant arm and shoulder injuries, returning to the mound as a reliable late-innings starter.
Early Life and Background
Brandon Kyle Woodruff was born on February 10, 1993, in the small community of Wheeler, Mississippi. He grew up in a tight-knit family in rural Mississippi, where baseball is a deeply rooted tradition. From an early age, Woodruff showed an aptitude for sports, and he spent much of his childhood playing youth baseball in and around Wheeler.
Woodruff attended Wheeler High School, where he developed into one of the top pitching prospects in the state. His performance on the mound drew national attention, and the Texas Rangers selected him in the fifth round of the 2011 MLB Draft directly out of high school. Woodruff opted not to sign with the Rangers, choosing instead to honor his commitment to play college baseball at Mississippi State University.
Path to Baseball
At Mississippi State University, Woodruff pitched for the Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball program in the competitive Southeastern Conference. He spent three seasons developing his game, refining his fastball and adding polish to his breaking pitches. In the summer of 2012, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League, a respected developmental circuit that has produced numerous major leaguers.
His junior season in 2014 was statistically uneven, as he posted a 1-3 record and a 6.75 ERA in 37 innings pitched, but his raw arm talent still intrigued scouts. Following his junior year, Woodruff was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 11th round of the 2014 MLB Draft and signed with the organization. This marked the official start of his professional baseball career.
Brandon Woodruff Career
Early Career (2014-2016)
Woodruff made his professional debut in 2014 with the Helena Brewers, the rookie-level affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. He went 1-2 with a 3.28 ERA in 14 games, including eight starts, showing flashes of the potential that had made him a draft pick. The following season, he advanced to the Brevard County Manatees, where he posted a 4-7 record and a 3.45 ERA in 21 games, 19 of which were starts.
In 2016, Woodruff continued his climb through the minor leagues, beginning the year with Brevard County before earning a promotion to the Biloxi Shuckers in May. He endured personal tragedy that July when his brother died following an ATV accident. In his first start after his brother’s death, Woodruff delivered a memorable performance, throwing six shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out nine batters, and also hitting a home run at the plate. He finished 2016 with a combined 14-9 record and a 2.68 ERA across 28 starts between the two affiliates.
Milwaukee Brewers Debut and Development (2017-2018)
Woodruff began the 2017 season with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate, before being promoted to the major leagues on June 13. An injury during warm-ups delayed his debut, and he ultimately made his first MLB appearance on August 4, 2017. Across eight starts with Milwaukee that year, he went 2-3 with a 4.81 ERA, while also logging a 6-5 record and 4.30 ERA in 16 starts for Colorado Springs. Entering 2018, MLB.com ranked him as Milwaukee’s third-best prospect.
The 2018 season gave Woodruff his first taste of postseason baseball. He opened Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Colorado Rockies, pitching three scoreless innings in the Brewers’ 3-2 win. In Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Woodruff hit a home run off Clayton Kershaw, becoming the 22nd pitcher and the third relief pitcher in postseason history to accomplish the feat. Across four postseason games, he posted a 2.19 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP in 12.1 innings.
Breakthrough Seasons (2019-2021)
In 2019, Woodruff cemented himself as a frontline starter, pitching in 22 games with an 11-3 record and a 3.62 ERA while striking out 143 batters in 121.2 innings. He earned his first selection to the MLB All-Star Game, replacing injured teammate Josh Hader on the National League roster. He also started the Wild Card Game that year, pitching four innings against the eventual World Series champion Washington Nationals.
The 2020 season was shortened to 60 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Woodruff remained productive, starting 13 games (tied for the most in the National League) and posting a 3-5 record with a 3.05 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 91 strikeouts in 73.2 innings. He started another Wild Card Game that year against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2021, Woodruff enjoyed a career-best campaign, pitching in 30 games with career highs in strikeouts (211), ERA (2.56), WHIP (0.96), and opponent batting average (.200). He earned his second All-Star selection and helped the Brewers win the 2021 National League Central Division title.
Setbacks and Return (2022-2025)
Woodruff posted a 13-4 record in 2022 with a 3.05 ERA over 190 innings, but it marked the first season in his career that the Brewers missed the postseason. On January 13, 2023, he signed a one-year, $10.8 million contract with Milwaukee to avoid salary arbitration. He made two excellent starts with a 0.79 ERA before landing on the injured list with shoulder tightness. He was later diagnosed with a subscapular strain, transferred to the 60-day injured list in May, and activated in August. On September 11, 2023, he threw the first complete-game shutout of his career in a 12-0 win over the Miami Marlins. On October 13, 2023, it was announced that he had undergone right shoulder surgery to repair his anterior capsule, ruling him out for most of 2024. He was non-tendered following the 2023 season but re-signed with the Brewers on February 21, 2024, on a two-year deal with a mutual option for a third year.
Woodruff returned to the Brewers in the middle of the 2025 season after multiple rehabilitation setbacks, including right ankle tendonitis in May and a batted ball that struck his right elbow in June. He was activated from the injured list on July 6, 2025, debuting a new cutter in his first start. In 12 starts for Milwaukee, he went 7-2 with a 3.20 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 64.2 innings. On November 3, 2025, Woodruff declined his 2026 option and became a free agent before accepting the $22 million qualifying offer on November 18 to return to the Brewers.
Driving Style and Strengths
Woodruff is recognized for his power fastball and sharp breaking pitches, which generate swings and misses at a high rate. He pairs a strong strikeout profile with the ability to limit hard contact, and his 2.56 ERA in 2021 highlighted his command and consistency. In 2025 he added a cutter to his arsenal, giving hitters a different look and helping him post a 3.20 ERA across 12 starts following his return from injury.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the signature moments of Woodruff’s career came in the 2018 National League Championship Series, when he homered off Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers, becoming only the third relief pitcher in postseason history to accomplish the feat. His emotional 2016 start following his brother’s death, the first complete-game shutout of his career in 2023, and his successful return from major shoulder surgery in 2025 round out a résumé of memorable milestones.
Brandon Woodruff Career Wins
Brandon Woodruff has accumulated wins across the major leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he has been a consistent presence in the rotation since 2019. His two All-Star selections, in 2019 and 2021, bracket his most productive stretch as a starter, and he helped the Brewers capture the 2021 National League Central Division title.
MLB Highlights
Woodruff’s signature MLB campaigns came in 2019 and 2021, when he earned All-Star honors. In 2021 he set career highs with 30 games pitched, 211 strikeouts, a 2.56 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, and a .200 opponent batting average. He has also delivered in the postseason, including three scoreless innings in the 2018 National League Division Series opener and a home run off Clayton Kershaw in the National League Championship Series.
Other Wins and Performances
Before reaching the majors, Woodruff was a consistent winner in the minor leagues, highlighted by a combined 14-9 record and 2.68 ERA across 28 starts in 2016 between the Brevard County Manatees and Biloxi Shuckers. His 2025 return produced a 7-2 record and 3.20 ERA in 12 starts for Milwaukee after recovering from shoulder surgery.
Brandon Woodruff Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Brandon Kyle Woodruff was raised in Wheeler, Mississippi, where his family supported his early baseball career. His brother, who died in an ATV accident in July 2016, was an important figure in his life, and Woodruff has spoken about leaning on family during the most difficult stretches of his career.
Personal Life
Woodruff is married to Jonie Woodruff, and the couple has a daughter and a son together. The family has remained a central part of his life as he has navigated both the highs of All-Star selections and the challenges of multiple injuries and rehabilitation stints.
2025 Season Performance
Woodruff’s 2025 season was defined by his long-awaited return from right shoulder surgery. After signing a two-year deal with a mutual option for a third year in February 2024, he worked his way back through the minor leagues, encountering right ankle tendonitis in May and a batted ball that struck his right elbow in June before the Brewers activated him on July 6.
Following his activation, Woodruff debuted a new cutter and quickly reestablished himself as a top-of-the-rotation arm for the Brewers. In 12 starts covering 64.2 innings, he went 7-2 with a 3.20 ERA and 83 strikeouts, providing Milwaukee with a major lift down the stretch as the team pushed for a return to the postseason.
On November 3, 2025, Woodruff declined his 2026 option and briefly became a free agent before accepting Milwaukee’s $22 million qualifying offer on November 18 to remain with the Brewers. His 2025 performance suggested that, when healthy, he remains one of the most effective starters in the National League heading into the next chapter of his career.