Brandon Williamson DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Brandon Williamson (elbow) suffered a full UCL tear and will need Tommy John surgery, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. Williamson has battled injuries all summer and just made his 2024 debut earlier in September. Through this small stint, the 26-year-old held a 3.77 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP across 14 1/3 innings of work. The TCU product made his MLB debut last season and posted a 4.46 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP across 117 frames. The former second-round selection should be expected to miss the entire 2025 campaign and will now set his sights on returning in the 2026 campaign.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Brandon Williamson (elbow) left his outing early on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park with manager David Bell and a trainer during the second at-bat of the second inning with an apparent elbow injury. It looked as though Williamson was grabbing at his left elbow before leaving the contest. Before departing, he allowed three earned runs on three hits (two home runs) while walking two and striking out one in just 1 1/3 innings. Given the fact that the season is almost over, there's a good chance Williamson will be shut down the rest of the way, especially after missing the first five months of the year with a shoulder injury. The 26-year-old southpaw was making just his fourth appearance of 2024 (and third start) on Tuesday. In his first 13 innings, Williamson had allowed three runs (two earned) while walking three and fanning 11.UPDATE: Williamson was diagnosed with a left-elbow strain.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Brandon Williamson (shoulder) will throw his first bullpen session on July 23 and is targeting a return in September. Williamson is battling a lesion on his left shoulder and hasn't been able to pitch at all to this point in 2024. The 26-year-old southpaw received an injection in his shoulder last month, though, and he's finally ready to resume throwing off a mound later this month. Eventually, Williamson will need a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment before he's an option to make his season debut in the big leagues. He made his big-league debut in 2023 and went 5-5 with a 4.46 ERA (4.63 FIP), 1.28 WHIP and a 98:39 K:BB in 117 innings over 23 starts. Williamson could be worth watching heading into the 2025 campaign, but fantasy managers can avoid him the rest of this season.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Brandon Williamson (shoulder) went 3 2/3 innings in his latest minor-league rehab start on Sunday for Triple-A Louisville, allowing one earned run on five hits while walking just one and striking out four in a no-decision. The 26-year-old was making his first rehab start with Louisville but his second overall after pitching for High-A Dayton on May 14. Williamson is likely going to need another rehab start or two before being an option to join Cincinnati's starting rotation. He's been on the IL all year with a left-shoulder strain but may have to settle for a role out of the bullpen for the Reds when he's ready to return if he's not sent back to the minors when he's activated. The former second-rounder by the Seattle Mariners in 2019 out of TCU had a 4.46 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 39 walks and 98 K's in his first 23 MLB starts in 2023.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Brandon Williamson (shoulder) made his second minor-league rehab start on Sunday with Triple-A Louisville and allowed an earned run, five hits and one walk with four strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings (56 pitches. In his first rehab start on May 14 with High-A Dayton, Williamson threw three scoreless innings with one hit, no walks and four strikeouts while throwing 38 pitches. Barring any setbacks, the 26-year-old is getting very close to rejoining the Reds and could be back with the team before the end of May. The former second-round pick by the Seattle Mariners in 2019 out of Texas Christian University made his major-league debut in 2023 and went 5-5 with a 4.46 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 39 walks and 98 strikeouts in 117 innings over 23 starts. When he returns, it remains to be seen if he'll have a rotation spot waiting for him in Cincy.