Brandon Woodruff DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) threw two innings in a minor-league game on Friday and was up to 95 mph on the radar gun, according to manager Pat Murphy. Woodruff will go with the team to New York to face the Yankees on Opening Day next Thursday and will throw an extended bullpen session in the Bronx before returning to Milwaukee for a long simulated game. After that, the 32-year-old veteran will begin a minor-league rehab assignment before eventually making his 2025 debut. There's still no timetable for Woodruff to make his first major-league start since 2023 after having shoulder surgery, and fantasy managers shouldn't expect that to happen until at least some point in March. His extended absence means he'll have limited fantasy upside in 2025 due to an innings limit, but the former ace is still worth stashing in most fantasy leagues.

After recovering nicely from facing San Diego Padres minor-leaguers in camp on Tuesday, Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) is penciled in to make his Cactus League debut on Sunday against the Cleveland Guardians. It's a big step this spring for the 32-year-old veteran, who didn't pitch at all in 2024 for the Brew Crew after having right-shoulder surgery in the fall of 2023. He was able to touch 94 mph on Tuesday with his fastball and is likely ticketed for around an inning of work this weekend in his first official spring training game. Woodruff is making progress, but he has a ways to go and will need to go on a 30-day minor-league rehab assignment at the start of the 2025 regular season, so his return to Milwaukee's starting rotation is still a ways off. Despite the fact that Woodruff will have his workload monitored in his return this year, he's stash-worthy in all fantasy formats.

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) faced live batters for the first time this spring on Tuesday in a minor-league game and hit 93-94 mph with his fastball. It was the first time Woodruff pitched in a game in almost 18 months after having shoulder surgery, and he allowed three runs on three hits (one homer). The most important takeaway, though, is that he emerged from the outing healthy and feeling strong. The 32-year-old veteran is now penciled in to throw at least one inning in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Cleveland Guardians, his first time facing big-league hitters since Sept. 23, 2023. Woodruff still has a long ways to go in his recovery and will need to eventually go on a 30-day minor-league rehab assignment, so his 2025 season debut will be a ways off. It's why the former fantasy ace is ranked No. 75 among starting pitchers at RotoBaller in 2025.