As Woodruff progresses with 2nd rehab start, Myers nears return to Crew

MILWAUKEE – For Brandon Woodruff, it was the latest stop in an ongoing rehab assignment. For Tobias Myers, it could be the last stop before a return to the big leagues.

Woodruff and Myers each completed rehab starts on Friday that moved both right-handers closer to rejoining the Brewers -- Woodruff allowing three runs and six hits over four innings for High-A Wisconsin and Myers clearing five scoreless innings for Triple-A Nashville.

Myers, Milwaukee’s 2024 Most Valuable Pitcher who was sidelined during Spring Training by a strained left oblique, could be ready to take his place in Milwaukee’s Major League rotation after allowing two hits and one walk with five strikeouts in five innings in Charlotte on Friday night. If he recovers as expected, then Myers would likely make his Brewers season debut in Thursday’s series finale at San Francisco.

Woodruff, meanwhile, will continue his comeback from October 2023 shoulder surgery in the Minors. In Friday’s start just north of Milwaukee he threw 68 pitches -- 44 for strikes -- and recorded three strikeouts and three walks.

It was the continuation of Woodruff’s long journey back to a Major League mound, as he hasn’t appeared in a meaningful game since Sept. 23, 2023. He underwent surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder the following month and missed the entirety of the '24 season.

Friday’s outing came six days after Woodruff’s first rehab start, in which he struck out five batters and allowed two runs over 3 2/3 innings for Triple-A Nashville. He will now rejoin the big league club to undergo treatment and throw a bullpen session before heading out for a third rehab start.

• After year-and-a-half-long journey, Woodruff ready to 'just play baseball'

“We’re in April, guys. Remember,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “As bad as we’re banged up and as many injuries as we have on the pitching staff -- I look at it every day -- we still can’t rush him back just because we have a need.”

Woodruff sounded a similar refrain in a chat with reporters after Friday’s outing: Health is still the most important takeaway from these outings.

“When you have any type of surgery, especially shoulder surgery, typically the last thing that comes for guys is the command of the baseball,” Woodruff said. “It doesn’t matter what level you’re at, especially right now for me, until the velocity comes back, that’s what I’m going to have to lock in on is the command.

“Body feels good. Shoulder felt good. Everything felt good today, so I checked that box. These are all the little things I’m trying to re-learn.”