Reds power rankings: Who is the No. 1 starting pitcher heading into the offseason?

5. Brandon Williamson, Reds starting pitcher

How do you accurately weigh out Brandon Williamson's 2023 season? There were moments where it looked as though the left-hander was the best pitcher on the staff, and other times when it appeared as David Bell couldn't make a change quick enough.

In the end, I think it's fair to say that Williamson had a solid, but not spectacular 2023 season. Hey, for a rookie, that's not too bad. Williamson struggled in 2022 while in the Reds minor league system, so to see him put up the type of performance he did in 2023 is a great accomplishment.

Williamson became a fixture in the Cincinnati rotation, and only Grahm Ashcraft started more games than the TCU product. Williamson was 5-5 with a 4.46 ERA. The southpaw struck out 98 batters in 117 innings of work.

The amount of big-game experience Brandon Williamson received down the stretch will be invaluable next season. Outside of a trip to the COVID-19-related IL in September, Williamson was available each and every time his number was called.

The one area where Williamson really shined in 2023 was his ability to keep the bases clear. The lefty posted a walk-rate of just 7.9-percent after being plagued by free passes the previous season in the minor leagues. Williamson is one of three lefties who could be in the Reds rotation next season.