MLB: Woodruff returns after long injury list stint; Dominican rookie Heriberto Hernandez belts third home run

Veteran right-hander returns after long injury layoff; Dominican rookie Heriberto Hernandez goes deep for Marlins

Milwaukee Brewers ace Brandon Woodruff made a triumphant return to the mound Sunday, allowing just two hits over six strong innings against the Miami Marlins in his first Major League start since September 23, 2023. Coincidentally, that last outing also took place in Miami.

After missing more than a year and a half due to shoulder surgery, Woodruff, 32, looked sharp in his comeback. Though his fastball velocity dipped to an average of 93.1 mph — nearly 3 mph below his 2023 mark — he cruised through the Miami lineup, giving up just one run, two hits, and no walks while striking out eight. That lone run came on a solo home run by Marlins left fielder Heriberto Hernandez.

Woodruff generated 10 swinging strikes on just 33 swings, five of those whiffs coming against his fastball variants. Despite the lengthy layoff, he showed few signs of rust.

“He’s a competitor,” said Brewers pitching coach Chris Hook prior to the game. “The plan was just to let him go out there, enjoy the moment, and compete. Then we’ll reassess and build from here.”

Before the injury, Woodruff had built an impressive big-league résumé, compiling a 3.10 ERA, 137 ERA+, and a 4.48 K/BB ratio over 680 innings across seven seasons. A two-time All-Star and a 2021 NL Cy Young candidate, his career Wins Above Replacement (WAR) currently sits at 16.7, per Baseball Reference.

The Brewers entered Sunday’s game with a 49-40 record, sitting second in the NL Central, four games behind the Chicago Cubs. They also trailed the New York Mets by 2.5 games for the top NL Wild Card spot, while holding a 1.5 game cushion for the third and final Wild Card position.

Rookie Heriberto Hernandez belts third home run in three weeks 🙌

Despite the Marlins’ 3–1 loss, the game featured a bright spot in the form of Heriberto Hernandez, the 24-year-old rookie from the Dominican Republic. Hernandez crushed his third home run in three weeks, continuing his hot streak at the plate. He finished the day 2-for-4 with a home run, an RBI, and a run scored.

Hernandez is now batting .328 with a .902 OPS through 24 games this season. He’s collected 21 hits in 64 at-bats, with a .371 OBP and .531 slugging percentage. Over his last ten games, he’s hitting .300 with two home runs and seven RBIs — a promising sign for Miami’s future lineup.