Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Brandon Williamson will kick off the season on the 15-day injured list due to shoulder soreness, as informed by manager David Bell to the Cincinnati beat on Tuesday via Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Although there’s no indication of a prolonged absence, the team hasn’t outlined a specific timeline for his return. Williamson, who secured a spot in the Reds rotation for a significant portion of last season, logged 23 starts and pitched 117 innings as a rookie. Despite a shaky start, he eventually found his footing as a reliable contributor toward the end of the rotation, concluding his debut campaign with a 4.46 ERA, a commendable achievement given the hitter-friendly nature of the home ballpark.
With Williamson sidelined, Bell announced that left-handed pitcher Andrew Abbott will fill the void in the starting rotation. While Abbott showcased promise during his rookie season with a 3.87 ERA and a solid strikeout rate, his performance dipped notably later in the season. The Reds will field a starting rotation led by offseason acquisition Frankie Montas on Opening Day, followed by Hunter Greene, Graham Ashcraft, Nick Martinez, and Abbott. Martinez, a versatile pitcher with experience in both starting and relief roles, will temporarily join the rotation until Nick Lodolo is ready to return, tentatively scheduled for the second week of April following a stress fracture injury in his left tibia.
The Reds encountered another setback with center fielder TJ Friedl suffering a wrist fracture, leading to an extended absence. With limited options in the free-agent market, the team is likely to rely on Will Benson and Stuart Fairchild to cover center field. Benson, a left-handed hitter, excelled against right-handed pitchers last season and is expected to form a platoon arrangement in center field, although his defensive capabilities remain a question mark due to limited experience at the position. Fairchild, who was already slated for a role in the outfield, now assumes a more significant role following Friedl’s injury, despite posting average offensive numbers in his major league career.