The Brewers’ blowout of the Rays on Game 3 turned into something even bigger in the ninth inning, when Brandon Woodruff finally stepped back onto a big league field for the first time since July 4.
Milwaukee had already put the game away by then, building a 10-0 cushion behind early damage from Christian Yelich and William Contreras. With the outcome long settled at Tropicana Field, Woodruff came in out of the bullpen and finished off the 10-1 win.
His appearance drew a loud reaction from Brewers fans, according to MLB insider Jon Heyman, who heard the crowd erupt as Woodruff entered. One fan also captured the moment Woodruff took the field.
Woodruff handled the last part of the rout by inducing a ground ball toward second base that led to a tag out at first.
For “Big Woo,” the scene carried extra meaning. MLB insider and columnist Bob Nightengale pointed out the connection to the venue, where Woodruff made his MLB debut in 2017.
As Nightengale posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Brandon Woodruff made MLB debut at Tropicana Field in 2017. First batter he faced was Corey Dickerson, the Rays’ first-base coach,”
— Nick Gerschke (@GerschkeNick) October 27, 2026
Woodruff’s path back was anything but simple. He needed a second shoulder surgery just three months ago, and there was uncertainty about whether he would be part of this October run at all.
Even so, he put together a 2.98 ERA and 0.838 WHIP with 47 strikeouts in 45.1 innings before the surgery question hung over his postseason status. Heading into the World Series, Woodruff told reporters he very much wanted to be part of the ride.
Now the Brewers are one win from their first World Series title. Milwaukee played in the World Series in 1982 as an American League franchise and lost to the St.
Brandon Woodruff closes out #WorldSeries Game 3
— MLB (@MLB) October 27, 2026
Milwaukee takes a 3-0 series lead in dominant fashion! https://t.co/JZBUk6U6Ts pic.twitter.com/hHz5ilO2xq
Louis Cardinals. The city’s last baseball championship came in 1957, when the Braves won it for Milwaukee.
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