MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- When the Brewers announced in July that pitcher Brandon Woodruff would need season-ending shoulder surgery, many believed it may be the last time the fan favorite would ever suit up for the team. Now, the big righthander has completed an improbable recovery and will be available for the Crew in the World Series.

The return is a big boost for the Brewers. Woodruff is the longest tenured Brewers player currently on the roster, and another reason this is happening is that he's a respected leader in the clubhouse.

The team has been balancing the risk of this decision, knowing that if a previous injury arises, which in this case would be the right shoulder inflammation and an anterior shoulder capsule injury that’s kept Woodruff out of baseball since July, they wouldn’t be able to replace him on the roster.

“This is the guy that’s one of the most successful, dominant big-game pitchers I’ve ever been around,” said Brewers President of Baseball Operations/GM Matt Arnold Thursday, Oct. 22. “There are also some rule constraints that we’re having to work through that have to be in consideration because he hasn’t pitched in a game since July 4, a lot of unknowns there, but the good version of that guy is someone you’d love to have on the roster.”

The stunning comeback began in August when Woodruff surprised everyone by announcing his injury would no longer require surgery and he began a rehab program. Both Woodruff and the Brewers have been cautious when talking about a potential return, but Friday morning they made it official: Woodruff had made the World Series roster.

It's a risky proposition for the team. When healthy, Woodruff is a top-notch pitcher. He had struck out 47 hitters in just 45.1 innings pitched during the regular season when his injury was announced, and his ERA sat at 2.98. But he hasn't thrown a meaningful in-game pitch since the 4th of July.

Reliever Chad Patrick was left off the World Series roster to make room for Woodruff.