Brandon Williamson is doing everything right and Reds still face Opening Day dilemma

At this point, Cincinnati Reds left-hander Brandon Williamson is probably used to being overlooked. It’s been four years since he found himself in the conversation around best pitching prospects in baseball and three years since he served as a regular member of the Reds’ starting rotation.

He’s battled injury while fresh faces like Chase Burns, Chase Petty, and Rhett Lowder stepped into the spotlight. This spring, despite strong performances and a surprise open spot in the rotation, Williamson still seems like an underdog.

To be fair, Williamson had a lot to prove in spring training. He last pitched in September 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. In fact, much of his 2024 season prior to the surgery was scrapped thanks to a shoulder strain. Even without these injuries, Williamson was a bit suspect due to his struggles with command. All those concerns, though, seem to be in the past as Williamson has put together a masterful spring.

Brandon Williamson’s strong spring hasn’t been enough to break through the noise at Reds camp.

Williamson has been lights-out, striking out nine batters in seven innings and allowing just four hits. His command has been much better (albeit in a small sample size), as he has walked one, hit one, and thrown one wild pitch. So, what’s standing in the way of him getting a legit shot at the rotation?

For one, Williamson has only made one start this spring. Burns has exclusively been a starter while Lowder and Petty have started two out of three appearances. Sure, spring is about rotating pieces and giving players time to prove themselves and sharpen their skills, but Williamson has the stuff to be a valuable bullpen piece. Manager Terry Francona could be tipping his hand a little here.

More importantly, Williamson has given up some loud contact. When opponents make contact, they have a hard-hit rate of 43.8%, and they are generally lofting the ball into the air (29 degree launch angle). He allowed an absolute moonshot to Jac Caglianone in his first spring action. The launching pad of Great American Ball Park may not play in Williamson’s favor, at least until he gets a bit more mound time.

All of this is to say, Williamson has been impressive and could very well play an important role in the rotation or the bullpen in 2026, but fans should avoid the temptation of championing this underdog too early. When he’s fully ready, the opportunity will come.