Random visit with Woodruff family friend

[brewers4eric]

I'm currently vacationing in Gulf Shores, Alabama with my family. We went up to the Wharf this evening and my kids asked for a ride on the ferris wheel. The line was long and my wife and I waited on the sidelines. I was wearing my Yelich all star game shirt when a passerby asked if I was from Milwaukee. He was waiting for his grandkids to finish their ferris wheel ride and we visited for a long time about the Brewers.

 

He was from Mississippi and was a close friend of Brandon Woodruff's Dad. He told me about driving to St. Louis to see Brandon's major league debut before he got hurt stretching before the game. He had been to Brandon's opening day start in Milwaukee and commented on how cold it was. I mentioned the home run against Kershaw in the playoffs and he told me that Brandon's Dad approached Kershaw at an all star game. When he introduced himself as Woodruff's Dad, Kershaw jokingly said that he didn't want anything to do with him.

 

He mentioned that Woodruff threw 55mph as an eight year old, but he gave allot of credit to the Brewers for the development of his off speed stuff. It was really interesting to hear his perspective on the team. I wish we would have had more time to visit, but his grandkids finished their ferris wheel ride and they were ready to hit the road.

[JimH5]

I love these kinds of stories. Thanks!

[pitchleague]

That’s really cool!