Reds starting pitcher Brandon Williamson has been officially ruled out for the remainder of the season due to complications following his Tommy John surgery. Initially expected to miss a significant portion of the 2024 season, Williamson’s recovery has encountered setbacks, delaying his return to the mound even further. The 26-year-old left-hander had surgery to repair a torn UCL earlier this year, and while the procedure was successful, unexpected issues have prolonged his recovery.
Williamson’s absence will be a significant blow to the Reds’ rotation, as the team had hoped for a late-season return.
Reds starting pitcher Brandon Williamson revealed on Wednesday that he has suffered a complete tear of his UCL, requiring Tommy John surgery.
The left-hander exited Tuesday night’s game against Atlanta in the second inning due to an elbow strain. After briefly doubling over in pain near the mound, he was replaced by reliever Fernando Cruz.
“It happened pretty suddenly,” Williamson shared, explaining that two MRIs confirmed the tear.
Drafted in the second round in 2019, Williamson had already dealt with a shoulder injury during spring training. The 26-year-old made his first start of the season on September 1, one of four starts he managed this year.
“It was a normal first inning of baseball,” Williamson recalled. “I felt a bit off, but nothing physically alarming. Maybe my mechanics were slightly off. After a long first inning, I felt like I needed to push harder to get warmed up for the second inning.”
Williamson said there were no red flags beforehand. “I felt good. On the third pitch to Michael Harris II, I felt a slight tweak on a changeup. But as a pitcher, you feel little things here and there, so I didn’t think much of it. Then, on the next pitch, it really hit me.”
Prior to the injury, Williamson had given up three runs over 13 innings across three games. In Tuesday’s game, he allowed three runs in the first inning and finished the season with no wins and a 3.77 ERA.
“He’s still young and athletic,” Reds manager David Bell said. “He obviously won’t be ready for Opening Day. We don’t have specifics on the recovery timeline yet, but we’re hoping to set a realistic goal for his return later next season.”
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