Brandon Williamson was assigned to the Louisville Bats, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds by the parent club Friday.
The Martin County West graduate was one of four pitchers competing for two spots in the Reds’ rotation during the club’s Spring Training in Goodyear, Ariz.
He was the last player in Cincinnati’s big-league camp who has yet to make his Major League debut.
“He's getting better in the areas he needs to,” Reds’ Manager David Bell said of Williamson to the Cincinnati Enquirer. “We just thought it was the best decision for today and our team. He handled it well. He knows what he needs to go do. He's in a great spot here.”
Williamson made his final Cactus League start vs. his former team, the Seattle Mariners, Thursday night and it was a night he’ll try to put behind him and get ready to compete in the International League.
The left-hander allowed the first four runners he faced to reach base.
“I felt like they hit some good pitches,” Williamson said. “I would say it wasn’t stuff, I wasn’t missing locations. A lot of the hits they got, I thought I threw pretty good pitches, and they were just on it. So, kudos to them.”
Williamson would go 2 2/3 innings, allowing nine runs (all earned) on eight hits, walking three and striking out three.
In six games (four starts) in the Cactus League, Williamson pitched 13 2/3 innings, giving up 18 runs (17 earned) on 20 hits, walking nine and fanning 14.
He returns to Louisville, where he finished the 2022 season after starting the year with the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts. Williamson started 13 games for the Bats, compiling a 1-5 record with a 4.07 earned run average, allowing 27 runs (25 earned) on 57 hits, walking 37 and striking out 49.
At Chattanooga in 2022, he started 14 games with a 5-2 record and 4.14 ERA.
Louisville opens its International League West schedule on Friday at the Nashville Sounds, the Milwaukee Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate. The home opener is Tuesday, April 4 vs. the Indianapolis Indians (Pittsburgh).
The Bats have a couple of series close to home coming up as they’ll be in Des Moines for six games vs. the Iowa Cubs (Chicago Cubs) April 25-30 and at the Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City) for six May 2-7.