Brandon Woodruff

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #2 prospect in 2018
  Woodruff led the minors with 173 strikeouts in a breakthrough 2016 season, then reached the majors a year later. He pitched effectively at Triple-A Colorado Springs in 2017 to earn a mid-June callup, but a hamstring strain delayed his debut by another six weeks. He started hot but recorded a 4.81 ERA in eight starts overall. When Woodruff is on top of his game, he pounds hard sinkers at hitters in the 93-95 mph range with good movement. He once had issues with tempo and rhythm but worked those out and his command improved markedly. Woodruff has an above-average slider he throws in the mid-80s and also mixes in an average changeup. He needs to work more on locating his changeup down in the zone, because he gets hit when he leaves the pitch up. A bulldog on the mound, he pitches with authority and confidence. Woodruff did not change his game plan during a tough Pacific Coast League assignment. Thus the Brewers were confident starting him in the final weeks of 2017 while battling for a playoff spot. He will challenge for a big league rotation spot in 2018 and has No. 3 starter upside.
• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #7 prospect in 2017
  Beset by injuries at Mississippi State, Woodruff fell to the Brewers in the 11th round of the 2014 draft, then produced modest results in two pro seasons before breaking out in his third. After earning midseason all-star honors in the Florida State League in 2016, he climbed to Double-A Biloxi and continued to excel, even overcoming the July death of his older brother in an ATV accident back in Mississippi. He went 14-9, 2.68 overall and led the minors with 173 strikeouts to earn the organization's minor league pitcher of the year award. Woodruff pitched in the low 90s early in his career but cleaned up his mechanics and pitched regularly at 93-94 mph in 2016 with good movement and sink. He benefitted greatly by increasing his tempo and rhythm, which allowed him to repeat his delivery more consistently. Woodruff also features an above-average slider and an average changeup to round out a starter's repertoire. He had control issues in college but has thrown strikes as a pro. With a bulldog approach and groundball tendencies he has a floor as high-leverage reliever. Woodruff has a No. 3 starter ceiling and is ready for Triple-A Colorado Springs, which presents the Brewers with a conundrum. The harsh pitching conditions there have sidetracked prospects such as Josh Hader, Jorge Lopez and Taylor Jungmann, so a return to Biloxi is possible.
• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #31 prospect in 2016
  Woodruff had his ups and downs, including injury and command issues, at Mississippi State but made a solid pro debut in rookie ball in 2014, and another promising season at high Class A Brevard County last year. He is a big, strong workhorse type whose fastball has improved and sits in the low-to-mid-90s with good action. Woodruff isn't a big strikeout pitcher but his sinker has heavy life and he profiles as a big-time groundball pitcher. Both his slider, which is a bit slurvy, and changeup have a chance to be at least average in the major leagues but he needs to keep working on the former. Woodruff didn't throw a lot of innings in college so he is still developing as a pitcher and the Brewers think if he continues to improve his command he can remain as a starting pitcher. Otherwise, he might end up in the bullpen, a role he was used in during his college career. He missed some time in 2015 with an oblique strain so he needs to stay on the mound and gain experience. Woodruff 's stuff is ahead of his command at this stage but that should turn around the more he pitches.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #200 prospect in 2014 draft
  An unsigned fifth-round pick of out of high school in 2011, Woodruff had an uneven three years at Mississippi State. He had a stress fracture in his elbow last year and was expected to become a rotation stalwart this season, but moved to the bullpen after six starts. In the rotation he pitched at 88-92 mph, touching 94. He was at 91-95 mph out of the bullpen, touching 97 at his best. Woodruff primarily uses two-seamers and gets downhill plane and plus fastball life with hard sink and armside run. His best secondary offering is a changeup that shows plus potential. His slider shows average potential but has been inconsistent. He will likely be a reliever in pro ball, but he has the fastball, plus secondary pitch and body (6-foot-2, 231 pounds) for the rotation. He has walked 5.0 per nine for his career and 5.7 this season, with a 1.2 strikeout-walk ratio.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #13 prospect in 2017
  Following a breakthrough 2016 season in which he rose to Double-A, Woodruff looked sharp at Colorado Springs but had his big league debut delayed two months to Aug. 4 by a hamstring injury. Woodruff's sturdy frame, 94 mph fastball that reaches 96 and a power slider make him a probable workhorse starter. He struck out 8.4 batters per nine innings in the PCL, one year after leading the minors with 173 whiffs. He still has issues with control, but that can be expected with his velocity and movement. "He's a power pitcher," Colorado Springs manager Rick Sweet said. "He can manipulate his slider. The key for him is his aggressive style. He goes after hitters. It's just a matter of keeping that quality command all the time."
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #16 prospect in 2016
  Woodruff should become the seventh member of Mississippi State's 2013 College World Series runner-up club (and the fifth pitcher) to reach the major leagues, joining the likes of Hunter Renfroe, Kendall Graveman and Adam Frazier. Woodruff, an unsigned fifth-round pick in 2011 out of high school, had significant control problems in college, but he took a leap forward in 2016 to finish the year at Double-A. Repeating the FSL to start the year, Woodruff showed better mound presence, pitch sequencing and consistency to improve his strikeout rate significantly. He threw his 92-96 mph fastball with more consistent velocity and confidence this season, dominating at times with only that pitch. He adds a sharp breaking ball, a power slider with late break that's at least above-average. His changeup also flashes plus, and that repertoire allowed him to lead the minor leagues with 173 strikeouts. A quicker tempo helped improve Woodruff's mound demeanor and confidence, and he never let up as the year went on. The biggest caveat with Woodruff is his short track record of fastball command, but Brevard County manager Joe Ayrault praised his makeup, both for his aptitude and his focus. Ayrault noted that Woodruff missed a start in mid-July when his brother was killed in an ATV accident. Woodruff returned to his team at Biloxi, pitched six scoreless, one-hit innings with nine strikeouts and hit his first career home run.
• 
  Ranked Southern League #16 prospect in 2016
  The Brewers selected Woodruff in the 11th round of the 2014 draft after an uneven career at Mississippi State, viewing him as a probable groundball-oriented reliever. He completely refashioned his career this season after recording a 1.83 ERA at high Class A Brevard County to earn a May 19 promotion to Biloxi. Woodruff missed bats at both stops and finished with a minor league-leading 173 strikeouts. Commanding his mid-90s fastball and sharp slider have made the biggest difference for Woodruff, who works with two above-average weapons at his best. He sits at 94 mph and can reach back for 97 while maintaining a strong ground ball rate. Woodruff locates his slider under the hands of lefthanders to neutralize their power, and he also throws an average changeup. He mixes his pitches well and throws them all for strikes whether ahead or behind in the count. With an aggressive mound presence, Woodruff pitches with a power mentality and nearly doubled his strikeout rate from 5.8 batters per nine innings in 2015 to 9.9 this season. He should contribute to the Brewers in some fashion in 2017, perhaps as a mid-rotation starter or high-leverage reliever.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #61 prospect in 2018
• Ranked Baseball America's #82 prospect in 2017

• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Woodruff led the minors with 173 strikeouts in a breakthrough 2016 season, then reached the majors a year later. He pitched effectively at Triple-A Colorado Springs in 2017 to earn a mid-June callup, but a hamstring strain delayed his debut by another six weeks. He started hot but recorded a 4.81 ERA in eight starts overall. Scouting Report: When Woodruff is on top of his game, he pounds hard sinkers at hitters in the 93-95 mph range with good movement. He once had issues with tempo and rhythm but worked those out and his command improved markedly. Woodruff has an above-average slider he throws in the mid-80s and also mixes in an average changeup. He needs to work more on locating his changeup down in the zone. A bulldog on the mound, he pitches with confidence. The Future: Woodruff did not change his game plan during a tough Pacific Coast League assignment. Thus the Brewers were confident starting him in the final weeks of 2017 while battling for a playoff spot. He will challenge for a big league rotation spot in 2018 and has No. 3 starter upside.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Beset by injuries at Mississippi State, Woodruff fell to the Brewers in the 11th round of the 2014 draft, then produced modest results in two pro seasons before breaking out in his third. He climbed to Double-A Biloxi and continued to excel, even overcoming the July death of his older brother in an ATV accident. He went 14-9, 2.68 overall and led the minors with 173 strikeouts. Scouting Report: Woodruff pitched in the low 90s early in his career but cleaned up his mechanics and pitched regularly at 93-94 mph in 2016 with good movement and sink. He benefitted greatly by increasing his tempo and rhythm, which allowed him to repeat his delivery more consistently. Woodruff also features an above-average slider and an average changeup to round out a starter's repertoire. He had control issues in college but has thrown strikes as a pro. With a bulldog approach and groundball tendencies he has a floor as high-leverage reliever.
  
  The Future: Woodruff has a No. 3 starter ceiling and is ready for Triple-A Colorado Springs. The harsh pitching conditions there have sidetracked prospects such as Josh Hader, Jorge Lopez and Taylor Jungmann, so a return to Biloxi is possible.