Woodruff delivers emotional gem for Biloxi
On Sunday night, Brandon Woodruff showed guts and resiliency. His older brother, Blake, died on July 15 from injuries sustained in an ATV accident in northeast Mississippi. Milwaukee's No. 29 prospect went on the temporarily inactive list the following day. His brother was buried Monday and Woodruff returned to action
On Sunday night,
His older brother, Blake, died on July 15 from injuries sustained in an ATV accident in northeast Mississippi.
Milwaukee's No. 29 prospect went on the temporarily inactive list the following day. His brother was buried Monday and Woodruff returned to action Sunday, taking the ball in the final game of a five-game series at Double-A Pensacola.
The right-hander allowed one hit while striking out nine over six innings in Double-A Biloxi's 1-0 win over Pensacola at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The reigning Southern League Pitcher of the Week also smacked his first career homer, a solo shot to right field, in the third inning for the game's only run.
"He can swing the bat," Biloxi manager Mike Guerrero said of Woodruff, who is hitting .417 in eight games with the Shuckers. "You can tell when someone can hit and he can handle the bat as a pitcher."
Cincinnati's No. 11 prospect
Brandon Woodruff... Most gutsy thing I've ever seen on a baseball field tonight. So much respect your way man...
— Rookie Davis (@rookdavis24) July 25, 2016
Woodruff (5-6) commanded the ball throughout his outing, but he got some assistance from
But
"He had command of all three pitches," Guerrero said. "Fastball, changeup and breaking ball. His fastball command was superb. He was able to go in and out and up and down and he just attacked the strike zone with his plus fastball."
Promoted to Biloxi from Class A Advanced Brevard County on May 15, the Mississippi State University product got off to a slow start and posted a 5.68 ERA in his first eight starts with the Shuckers. He's been on a roll of late as he hasn't allowed an earned run in his last three starts, dropping his ERA to 3.65.
"I believe he's gotten in a rhythm," Guerrero said. "It takes a little time for people to get adjusted to Double-A, but he's starting to feel comfortable. The execution of his secondary stuff has been good.
"Woodruff is a bulldog out there," he added. "What we saw today is how he pitches, with that fire, and he wants to beat you. He has [the stuff] and he's going after you."
Biloxi reliever
Pensacola starter
Mack Burke is a contributor with MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @macburke18_MiLB