Brewers Starter Brandon Woodruff to Undergo Second Anterior Capsule Surgery, Aims to Return

Milwaukee Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff announced July 18 that he will undergo anterior capsule surgery on his right shoulder. Woodruff told reporters before a game against the Miami Marlins that he would not set a timeline for his return but noted his prior recovery took about 20 months. "I'm never closing the door on pitching," Woodruff said.

The Brewers pulled Woodruff from a July 4 start against the Arizona Diamondbacks after a drop in velocity. One day later the team diagnosed a new anterior capsule injury and placed him on the 15-day injured list. He was moved to the 60-day injured list on July 12. Brewers manager Pat Murphy said he knew the injury was serious when the team went to the mound.

Woodruff has worked with Dr. Keith Meister since the latest injury. Meister performed the 2023 shoulder repair and removed a cyst from Woodruff's shoulder in early May 2026, an operation that sidelined him for nearly two months. Woodruff did not pitch in 2024 after October 2023 surgery.

He returned midway through 2025 and posted a 7-2 record with a 3.20 ERA in 12 starts before a lat strain kept him out of the playoffs.

In nine starts this season Woodruff went 2-2 with a 2.98 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 45⅓ innings. The Brewers' team ERA of 3.48 ranked second in MLB entering July 18. Murphy called the development a gut punch.

On July 15 the Brewers acquired right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. and left-hander Colton Gordon from the Houston Astros for outfield prospect Jadyn Fielder. McCullers will pitch out of the bullpen.