Brewers' Woodruff Exits Early After Velocity Drop

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff left his start against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second inning Thursday after a sharp drop in his fastball velocity, prompting immediate concern from the team given his injury history.

Woodruff, who entered the game with a 2-1 record and 3.60 ERA over six starts this season, threw just 21 pitches across 1 1/3 innings. His fastball averaged 85.4 mph, with none exceeding 86.9 mph, well below his season average of 92.5 mph. He faced six batters, striking out two, walking one and allowing a bloop single to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with one out in the second. After a 1-0 count on Nolan Arenado, manager Pat Murphy, pitching coach Chris Hook and trainer Brad Epstein visited the mound. Woodruff departed without protest, and reliever Grant Anderson struck out Arenado and Alek Thomas to end the inning.

The Brewers won 13-1 despite the early exit. Woodruff reported no pain, telling coaches his arm felt "dead" and that "nothing was coming out," according to Murphy. "He wasn't himself," Murphy said during a midgame television interview. "We've seen a little bit of this, but never at this level, where he can't get the ball over 85 mph. He's so...