Reds' Brandon Williamson: Requires Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Williamson said Wednesday that he has a full UCL tear in his left elbow and will require Tommy John surgery, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Williamson's comments came shortly after the Reds placed him on the 15-day injured list earlier Wednesday. The southpaw had been on the shelf for most of the season due to a shoulder problem, but he avoided surgery and was cleared to make his 2024 debut for the Reds on Sept. 1 after making just one rehab start. He produced a 3.77 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 12:5 K:BB across 14.1 innings in four starts with the Reds before he ultimately strained his elbow in Tuesday's 6-5 win over Atlanta. A date for Williamson's elbow surgery hasn't been set, but he'll miss the entire 2025 season while he embarks on an arduous rehab process.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Done for season with strained elbow
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The Reds placed Williamson on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a left elbow strain.
Williamson exited his start Tuesday against Atlanta because of the injury, and it has now officially ended his season. The left-hander also missed much of the campaign with a Bennett lesion in his left shoulder, ultimately opting to treat that injury with injections rather than surgery. It's not clear at this point whether an offseason operation for either injury might be on the table.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Diagnosed with elbow strain
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Williamson left Tuesday's game against Atlanta with a left elbow strain, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Williamson suffered the injury after throwing a pitch in the second inning of Tuesday's contest and had to be taken out of the game immediately afterward. The Reds haven't specified the severity of his injury, but if the team elects to place the left-hander back on the injured list, his season would be put to an early end after just four starts.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Exits with trainer
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Williamson was removed from his start Tuesday against Atlanta with an apparent injury, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Williamson appeared to be grabbing at his left elbow after making a pitch in the second inning of Tuesday's contest. The specifics of his injury won't be known until the Reds are able to take a closer look at him, but the 26-year-old southpaw may be at risk of missing even more time after sitting out the first five months of the season due to a shoulder issue.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Gives up one run to Cardinals
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Williamson allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out five over five innings in a no-decision versus the Cardinals on Wednesday.
Williamson completed five innings for the first time in his three appearances (two starts) since he returned from a shoulder injury that cost him five months to begin the year. He's been good so far, allowing four runs (three earned) over 13 innings while posting an 11:3 K:BB. The lone blemish on his line Wednesday was a solo home run by Nolan Arenado. Williamson is tentatively projected to make his next appearance at home versus Atlanta.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Allows one run in bulk role
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Williamson did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk over 4.2 innings against the Mets. He struck out one.
The Cincinnati southpaw relieved opener Fernando Cruz in the second frame and fired 60 pitches in this performance. Williamson pitched into the sixth inning before being relieved by Buck Farmer, who allowed an inherited runner to score. Williamson has made two appearances since making his season debut and returning from a shoulder injury, pitching to a 3.38 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 6:1 K:BB across eight innings. He currently lines up to make his next outing against the Cardinals in St. Louis, but it is unknown whether he will start or serve as a bulk reliever.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Fans five in season debut
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Williamson did not factor into the decision in Sunday's win over Milwaukee, allowing two earned runs on four hits and zero walks while striking out five in 3.1 innings.
Working his way back from a shoulder injury that sidelined most of the season, Williamson made his 2024 debut Sunday after just one rehab start in the minors. The 26-year-old impressed early on, retiring the first seven batters he faced and logging a strong second inning during which he struck out the side. Williamson slowed down as the game progressed, allowing a sacrifice fly in the third and a solo home run to Willy Adames in the fourth before departing after 66 pitches. Williamson displayed impressive control Sunday, throwing 44 of his 66 pitches for strikes en route to a flawless 5:0 K:BB. The southpaw started 23 games for Cincinnati as a rookie last season, going 5-5 with a 4.46 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 98:39 K:BB in 117 innings.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Set to return Sunday
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Williamson (shoulder) will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start in Sunday's game against the Brewers, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Williamson has been on the shelf all season after suffered a shoulder injury in spring training. He began a rehab assignment in May, but he was pulled off of it in early June after being diagnosed with a Bennett lesion in his left shoulder. Williamson opted to treat the injury with injections rather than season-ending surgery, and after a lengthy shutdown period, he finally resumed his rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday, tossing 50 pitches over 2.2 scoreless innings. The Reds apparently saw enough from Williamson in that outing to bring him back from the IL, but he's still expected to be operated on a limited pitch count as he toes the rubber for the big club for the first time Sunday. Williamson could need two outings before he's fully stretched out to handle a typical starter's workload. As a rookie with Cincinnati in 2023, Williamson posted a 5-5 record with a 4.46 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 98:39 K:BB over 117 innings.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Activated ahead of start
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The Reds reinstated Williamson (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Sunday versus the Brewers.
Despite having been on the IL all season and having just restarted his minor-league rehab assignment Tuesday, Williamson will get the green light to rejoin the Cincinnati rotation with the roster expanding to 28 men Sunday. After tossing 2.2 scoreless innings and 50 pitches in his rehab start with Triple-A Louisville, Williamson will almost surely be in store for a limited workload Sunday and may not reach the five innings he would need to qualify for a win. Jakob Junis made a four-inning start Tuesday and could end up piggybacking Williamson if the Reds want to go that route.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Shines in short rehab start
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Williamson (shoulder) struck out four and gave up one hit and one walk over 2.2 scoreless innings in his rehab start Tuesday for Triple-A Louisville.
After making four rehab starts in May and June, Williamson was pulled off his minor-league assignment when he experienced a setback with his shoulder. He was then diagnosed with a Bennett lesion in his shoulder, but rather than opting for season-ending surgery to address the issue, he instead received injections to treat the injury. Williamson seems to be responding well more than two months later, and he took a major step forward in the recovery process by restarting his rehab assignment Tuesday. He tossed 50 pitches (26 strikes) in the rehab outing for Louisville, generating seven swings and misses along the way. Williamson will likely continue to build up over at least two more rehab outings before he becomes a realistic option for the Cincinnati rotation.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Scheduled for rehab start
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Williamson (shoulder) is scheduled to make a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Williamson, who threw two innings at the Reds' complex in Arizona last Thursday, is scheduled for three innings in what will be the first appearance of his second rehab assignment. The left-hander opened the season on the injured list due to a left shoulder strain and was pulled off an earlier rehab assignment in June, when he was diagnosed with a Bennett lesion in the shoulder.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Closing in on rehab assignment
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Williamson (shoulder) is expected to begin a rehab assignment next week, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Williamson initially went on the injured list before Opening Day because of a left shoulder strain, but he was later diagnosed with a Bennett lesion in his shoulder in June. The southpaw was given multiple injections in the shoulder and has been ramping things back up to the point that he's nearly game-ready again. Williamson could join the Reds by September, perhaps in a relief role.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Slated for July 23 bullpen session
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Williamson (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session July 23, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Williamson is poised to throw off of a mound for the first time since he received injections last month to combat a lesion in his left shoulder. The left-hander is hoping to be ready to pitch for the Reds in September, but he'll have many hurdles to clear to make that a reality.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Won't need surgery
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Manager David Bell said Friday that Williamson will not undergo surgery on his left shoulder, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Surgery to remove a lesion from Williamson's left shoulder would have put an end to his season before it even started, but the lefty will instead receive injections in his shoulder and be shut down from throwing for the next three weeks. At that point, the Reds will re-evaluate the 26-year-old southpaw and determine the next steps in his recovery.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Season-ending surgery possible
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Reds manager David Bell said Tuesday that Williamson is considering undergoing season-ending surgery to remove a lesion from his left shoulder, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Williamson has been out all season with shoulder problems and was recently pulled off a rehab assignment because of recurring discomfort. While the lefty would be done for the season if he opts to go under the knife, it's unclear what a timetable would look like if he decides against surgery.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Shut down from throwing
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Williamson (shoulder) will be shut down from throwing for at least seven days, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The left-hander was pulled off his rehab assignment due to persistent issues with his shoulder, and he'll stop throwing entirely for at least a brief period while he and the club consider different options for how to proceed with his recovery. Williamson has yet to pitch for the Reds this season due to the shoulder sprain, and it's now questionable whether he'll be able to return ahead of the All-Star break.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Pulled off rehab assignment
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Williamson has been pulled off his rehab assignment due to continued issues with his left shoulder, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Williamson threw four shutout innings Sunday and allowed just one hit in his last rehab start with Triple-A Louisville, showing good velocity. However, there's evidently renewed concern with the left shoulder strain which has kept him sidelined all season.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Covers four innings in rehab start
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Williamson (shoulder) struck out two over four scoreless innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Louisville. He gave up one hit and no walks in the 49-pitch outing.
Williamson made the fourth start of his rehab assignment Sunday and his third in a row with Louisville. The Reds have been having Williamson build up slowly as he works his way back from a left shoulder strain, which he suffered in a Cactus League game in mid-March. Williamson is eligible to return from the 60-day injured list whenever the Reds deem him ready to go, but he'll likely need to build his pitch count up to around 75 before he's available to handle a typical starter's workload. The Reds don't appear to have a spot in the rotation available for Williamson at the moment, so he could be optioned to Louisville once he's activated if the team's current five starters are all still healthy.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Reaches fourth inning in rehab start
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Williamson (shoulder) struck out four and allowed one earned run on five hits and one walk over 3.2 innings Sunday in his rehab start with Triple-A Louisville.
Sunday's outing was Williamson's first with Louisville but the second overall of his rehab assignment, which he began with High-A Dayton on May 14. Williamson, who has been on the shelf all season with a left shoulder strain, is eligible for activation next week, but he'll likely need at least another rehab start or two to get fully stretched out for a traditional starting role. With Nick Lodolo (groin) tentatively in line to return from the 15-day injured list Monday to bring the Cincinnati rotation back to full strength, Williamson may have to settle for a bullpen role once activated, if the Reds don't elect to option him to Louisville to remain on a starter's schedule.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Reporting to High-A Dayton
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Williamson (shoulder) will report to High-A Dayton next week, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
The move to Dayton suggests Williamson is nearing a rehab assignment. The Reds are targeting the end of May for his return.
