Best outing
Williamson wraps up spring with strong performance
It’s been a good spring for Brandon Williamson, who returned to the mound after 18 months and earned a spot on the Cincinnati Reds 26-man roster to start the regular season.
On Friday night, he had his best outing of Spring Training. He pitched into the sixth inning of a game for the first time since 2023.
The Martin County West graduate was the winning pitcher for the Reds as he went 5.1 innings, vs. the Chicago Cubs, allowing one run on six hits, walking one and striking out two. The Reds led 8-1 when he left the game and held on for an 8-6 win.
After the game at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz., Williamson spoke about the importance of facing and beating some of the Cubs’ best hitters.
“That was more of a full lineup than I’ve seen (this spring),” Williamson told Charlie Goldsmith. “That was the best test, getting three times through the lineup. I feel strong, healthy and prepared. I let that all roll.”
Goldsmith wrote that the key to the outing was a double play with the bases loaded in the fourth inning.
“That was awesome,” Williamson said. “I needed it. You’re trying to make that pitch. You don’t want them to swing and miss. You don’t want them to pop up. You want them to (hit a double play). That was why I was a good player in 2023. If I can replicate that again, then I’m in a good spot.”
Matt and Nancy Prunty of Welcome have been in Arizona this month and have seen Williamson pitch four times.
According to Matt’s math, in those appearances, Williamson pitched 14.1 innings with s stretch of 13 consecutive shutout innings.
Williamson had a shortened 2024 season that was halted by Tommy John surgery. He missed all of 2025. Cincinnati closes out the Arizona portion of its exhibition schedule vs. Cleveland and then plays in Milwaukee Monday and Tuesday.
The Reds open the regular season at home Thursday vs. the Boston Red Sox.