Brandon Williamson, who has been sidelined since mid-March with a left shoulder strain, is expected to be sidelined at least another month.
Reds manager David Bell told Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer the Martin County West graduate will likely be sidelined until late May.
Bell expected that Williamson would have to go back to square one of his Spring Training plan and build up to getting through five innings. That likely sets his target to return somewhere near the end of May.
The left-hander was 0-3 this spring with a 6.55 earned run average in three starts and four appearances. He allowed eight runs on 13 hits in 11 innings, walking three and striking out 10.
In his rookie season in the major leagues last season, he made 23 stars and had a 5-5 record with an earned run average of 4.46. In 117 innings he allowed 63 runs (58 earned) on 111 hits, walked 39, hit two and struck out 98. Opponents had a .248 batting average. Cincinnati was 14-8 in games Williamson started.
This season, the Reds are 6-6 and in fourth place in the National League Central Division standings, 2.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers. Cincinnati is in Chicago for three games vs. the White Sox this weekend.