Milwaukee Brewers fans just got hit with a gut punch that no one saw coming, and it landed right on ace pitcher Brandon Woodruff. On the very day they were handing out his bobbleheads, Woodruff dropped the news himself: another anterior capsule surgery on his right shoulder. This isn't just a bump in the road; it likely slams the door shut on his entire 2026 season.
The Deja Vu Injury Hits Again
Man, this is tough. Woodruff told reporters before Saturday's game against the Miami Marlins it’s the *exact same surgery* he had after the 2023 season. He got pulled from a July 4th start versus the Arizona Diamondbacks when his velocity dipped. Boom, new injury to the anterior capsule, straight to the 15-day IL, then the 60-day IL on July 12. Brewers manager Pat Murphy didn't mince words, saying, "I knew, when we went to the mound, it was bad." Murphy added, "It’s tough to come back from what he’s going to have to come back from." That’s a chilling thought considering his history.A Long, Brutal Road Back
And what a history it is. This guy didn't pitch *at all* in 2024 after that October 2023 surgery, with his last recovery taking about 20 months to get him back on the mound. He finally returned midway through 2025, throwing 12 starts with a solid 7-2 record and a 3.20 ERA, but then a lat strain kept him out of the playoffs. This season, in nine starts, he posted a 2-2 record with a fantastic 2.98 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings before this latest setback. Woodruff's been working with Dr. Keith Meister, the same doc who fixed his shoulder in 2023, and Meister even removed a cyst in early May this season, which sidelined him for almost two months. This isn't just bad luck, it's a pattern. But Woodruff's a fighter, saying, "I’m never closing the door on pitching." He's getting the surgery "with the intention of rehabbing and taking care of that and being able to pitch again." He knows the score: "It’s not going to be easy. I know it’s going to be tough. I know what’s ahead of me."Another Key Player Down
Just to pile on the misery, Brandon Woodruff isn't the only one dealing with shoulder issues right now. Outfielder Sal Frelick was pulled early from Friday's 2-1 win against the Marlins with shoulder soreness, then placed on the IL Saturday with a right shoulder strain. Murphy confirmed the grim outlook: "Sal tried to make a throw in the outfield and he felt it... I suspect he won't be able to go anytime soon." Frelick's been struggling at the plate this year, batting .236/.301/.330, a big drop from his nearly three-win 2025 and .756 OPS. Turns out, this same shoulder has been bothering him for two months. Man, talk about a double whammy for the team right when they need to be healthy. With two major contributors now sidelined, it's going to be a brutal grind for the team moving forward. How do you replace an ace like Woodruff and a productive outfielder like Frelick mid-season? This team has serious questions to answer, and fans will be holding their breath waiting for any good news on the injury front. What a brutal couple of days for the team.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.