When Spring Training kicked off, the Milwaukee Brewers seemed to have an embarrassment of riches in their starting pitching department. Their Triple-A rotation was shaping up to look like a major league lineup, stocked with arms that would be starters in many other organizations. But as the 2025 season taught us-with its slew of injuries during Spring Training and the early weeks-a team can never have too much starting depth.
Reflecting on last year's rocky start, the Brewers' front office made strategic moves to bolster their pitching staff. They brought back Brandon Woodruff with a qualifying offer, and through trades involving Freddy Peralta and Caleb Durbin, they acquired three promising starters: Brandon Sproat, Kyle Harrison, and Shane Drohan.
Sproat and Harrison have already made their MLB debuts, while Drohan is knocking loudly on the big league door. This influx of talent adds to a rotation already featuring Woodruff, Quinn Priester, Jacob Misiorowski, Chad Patrick, Logan Henderson, Robert Gasser, and several versatile long relievers.
Despite the seemingly crowded rotation, injuries have begun to take their toll, as they often do this time of year. Priester is grappling with a persistent wrist issue dating back to last August, delaying his spring start and likely ruling him out for Opening Day. Meanwhile, Woodruff, fully recovered from last year's lat injury, is being eased back into action, leaving his Opening Day status uncertain.
Adding to the mix, Logan Henderson is dealing with mild elbow soreness, as reported by Brewers beat reporter Adam McCalvy. Although the soreness is described as mild, it’s a concern given Henderson's previous elbow inflammation that sidelined him for nearly two months last season. This puts his Opening Day status in question.
While the Brewers' Opening Day rotation isn't set in stone-only Misiorowski and Patrick have secured spots-Henderson was on a promising trajectory before this setback. He had reintroduced a curveball to his repertoire, complementing his strong fastball-changeup combination. However, with Opening Day just two weeks away, his elbow issue is a cautionary flag for the Brewers, who will likely take a careful approach with the 24-year-old.
Even with these hurdles, the Brewers' rotation depth remains robust enough to handle the potential absences of Priester, Henderson, and Woodruff. Alongside Misiorowski and Patrick, Harrison, Sproat, Gasser, and Drohan are ready to step up and shine. Additionally, Aaron Ashby and DL Hall are being prepared as starters this spring, offering further options if needed.
Hopefully, Henderson can finish the spring strong and contribute early in the 2026 season. But even if his start is delayed, the Brewers' strategic depth additions this offseason have them well-prepared to weather any early storms.