Brandon Woodruff

[BrewersSuperCollector]

Is anyone else excited to have 3 potential young stud starters in Woodruff,Perelta and Burnes. I don't know when i been more excited about a brewers rotation.

 

 

1986..Having Teddy Higuera in the rotation with Tim Leary, Bill Wegman, Juan Nieves, and Chris Bosio coming up.

[MNBrew]

The Brewers have a little history with once-highly-touted Mets pitching prospects. Tim Leary was the first. Bill Pulshipher was the next. Syndergaard the next? Based on precedent, if the Brewers get him, it's hard not to anticipate a flame-out sooner than later.

[HiAndTight]

There are certainly a reasonable probability that he becomes a productive major leaguer that make him valuable, but he has warts that will not be fixed with age.

 

Lol, control is the only thing holding him back from being completely dominant. You're definitively saying a 22 year old with MLB success under his belt can't fix that as he progresses? I'll continue listening to the scout.

 

 

I disagree. I think his lack of velocity is holding him back from being "completely dominant," as is a viable 3rd pitch.

 

He's an undersized right hander with average velocity and only 2 pitches. I don't think anyone one area of improvment is going to make him an ace in the near future.

 

I'm not saying that he can't add a really nice change or work on a 2nd breaking ball, but simply improving his command(more command than control, but both are issues) will not place him atop a rotation.

[NievesNoNO]

I think Woodruff could absolutely be the centerpiece to bring back a good player. I'd consider him on the same tier as Peralta trade value wise. Personally I think he'll end up with the better overall career.

[KCBrewerfan34]

I agree I think people are underestimating Woodruff because he isn't highly ranked. He was outstanding in the playoffs, performing on the big stage is big in my book.

[amt2138]

Where do you guys rank Woodruff, Peralta, Burnes in comparison to Luke Weaver?

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Where do you guys rank Woodruff, Peralta, Burnes in comparison to Luke Weaver?

 

I'd go Burnes, Woodruff, Weaver, Peralta, in that order. But I think Peralta might just have the most upside, if that makes any sense. I rank him lowest because I think he has the most bust potential. In my mind, Peralta and Weaver should be very similarly ranked value-wise.

[A Swing and A Drive]

Burnes, Peralta, Weaver, Woodruff

 

I'd say Burnes has the highest floor and Peralta has the highest ceiling.

 

Both Weaver and Woodruff are solid bets to be mid-rotation starters given where they are at in their development.

 

Both 25 and 2014 Draft Picks (Weaver, 1st rd, Woodruff, 11th rd), if you look at their minor league numbers it will be clear why I rank Weaver higher.

[KeithStone53151]

Burnes, Peralta, Weaver, Woodruff

 

I'd say Burnes has the highest floor and Peralta has the highest ceiling.

 

Both Weaver and Woodruff are solid bets to be mid-rotation starters given where they are at in their development.

 

I would argue that Burnes has the highest floor and the highest ceiling, but I'm higher on him than most. I'd probably go Burnes, Woodruff, Weaver, Peralta...with Peralta having a higher ceiling than the other 2. Peralta is a bit polarizing as a prospect though, what makes him good is so unusual.

[A Swing and A Drive]

Other than being a Brewer, I'm curious on why posters think Woodruff should be ranked ahead of Weaver?

 

Weaver was universally more well thought of coming out of college and has put up better career minor league numbers at the same age/levels.

[KeithStone53151]

Other than being a Brewer, I'm curious on why posters think Woodruff should be ranked ahead of Weaver?

 

Weaver was universally more well thought of coming out of college and has put up better career minor league numbers at the same age/levels.

 

Woodruff was insanely good the last 2 months of the season, while Weaver had a poor 2018 season in a pitcher friendly park. If Woodruff is anything like he was in Sept/Oct for the 2019 season...it isn't even close, he's way better than Weaver.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Other than being a Brewer, I'm curious on why posters think Woodruff should be ranked ahead of Weaver?

 

Weaver was universally more well thought of coming out of college and has put up better career minor league numbers at the same age/levels.

 

My ranking was based on his higher velocity and a larger frame that would indicate a higher probability of durability. Luke Weaver is extremely skinny, and while it is possible that he can add some muscle mass, typically svelte pitchers don't age extremely well as starters. Woodruff, on the other hand, looks like he came off the starting pitcher assembly line.

[A Swing and A Drive]

Thanks for the responses. That's interesting.

 

If you base it off what you saw from both at the MLB level JUST in 2018, then it makes some sense.

 

Can't argue that Woodruff doesn't have the better pitchers frame, physically either. However, they both had similar frames when Weaver was drafted 10 rounds sooner than Woodruff just 4 years ago so I think MLB scouts believe that Weaver has a better arsenal. So far the overall numbers have backed up that belief.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Can't argue that Woodruff doesn't have the better pitchers frame, physically either. However, they both had similar frames when Weaver was drafted 10 rounds sooner than Woodruff just 4 years ago so I think MLB scouts believed that Weaver has a better arsenal. So far the overall numbers have backed up that belief.

 

No doubt Weaver was considered the better prospect 4 years go. Four years is an eternity in player development, though. And considering where they were drafted and where they are now, you could make a sound argument that Woodruff has developed at a higher rate based on expectations at draft time.

[Humans Need Water]

Thanks for the responses. That's interesting.

 

If you base it off what you saw from both at the MLB level JUST in 2018, then it makes some sense.

 

Can't argue that Woodruff doesn't have the better pitchers frame, physically either. However, they both had similar frames when Weaver was drafted 10 rounds sooner than Woodruff just 4 years ago so I think MLB scouts believe that Weaver has a better arsenal. So far the overall numbers have backed up that belief.

Woodruff had some control issues coming out of college if I recall correctly whereas Weaver had great control so he was a more polished college product. Burnes was drafted 3 rounds after Weaver does that mean he has a worse arsenal than Weaver? Woodruff and Weaver both ended up being ranked in the greater top 50 area by scouts/pubs. I really like Weaver and don't believe 2018 is what you're getting moving forward but you can't ignore his production. Woodruff obviously has the build you never have to worry about breaking down. I would also rate Woodruff higher than Weaver but not by a wide margin or anything. They're two different pitchers too. Woodruff is big and burly with a power late breaking slider off his mid-90s fastball (when starting) working in a change I like and think he can develop well. Weaver to me is Davies + 4mph. Weaver's fastball is straight whereas Davies has movement but they both have great changes and get their curve over. I just feel that type of pitcher isn't typically more than a mid-rotation and they have to be on their game and consistent in order to even achieve that. But they're great backend starters. I believe Woodruff can be a 2.5 starter - meaning I think he falls short of being a TOR but can be slightly better than a typical mid-rotation. I think of 2017 Jimmy Nelson when I think of Woodruff's ability but with a slight increase in BB rate and a lower K/H9 rate but similar-ish effectiveness.