MILWAUKEE, WI (WTAQ) – The Milwaukee Brewers have named Brandon Woodruff as the team’s Opening Day starter for Friday’s game against the Chicago Cubs.
Manager Craig Counsell made the call over the weekend to give the former 11th-round pick the nod, which Woodruff says is a high honor.
“It’s a cool moment and a cool day,” said Woodruff. “It’s a special day, so you go out and try to have fun while taking it as a huge honor. It’s something you can say you’ve always done, and it’s one of those things they can’t take away from you.”
Even though this year’s call comes under less than normal circumstances, he says the honor is still the same. “It’ls just going to be different but those are the cards we’ve been dealt this year. We’re going to deal with it and get out there and play some baseball because that’s what we love to do.”
He adds that the opening day nod means even more to him as a mid-round selection who has had to work his way up through Milwaukee’s farm system to earn a spot on the big-league roster.
Woodruff pitched collegiality at Mississippi State. He says his parents will be watching the game from home just like everyone else.
The Cubs will counter with Kyle Hendricks for Friday’s game. Brett Anderson will get the Saturday start for the Brewers if he can overcome a blister on his pitching hand. No starters for the Sunday finale have been announced.
Milwaukee will have one tune-up game against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field before Friday’s opener on the north side.
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