Manager David Bell of the Cincinnati Reds announced to the Cincinnati Beat on Tuesday that starting pitcher Brandon Williamson will start the season on the 15-day injured list (relayed by Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer). Due to shoulder pain, the left-hander had to leave his Spring Training debut over the weekend.

The team did not specify a timetable for his return, but there’s no hint that it’s anticipated to be a long-term problem. For the most of the previous season, Williamson was a member of the Reds rotation. As a rookie, he worked 117 innings and started 23 games. After taking a lot of hits in his first eight starts, Williamson became a reliable back-of-the-rotation player. His 4.46 ERA at the end of his first season was a good number for a rookie pitching in one of the league’s most hitter-friendly home parks.

That came with mediocre peripherals, but if healthy, the TCU graduate still had a chance to lock down a rotation place to start the season. Bell stated that fellow lefty Andrew Abbott will have a starting position while Williamson is out. Abbott had a terrific first season, but the Reds had previously shown no commitment on that. In 21 starts, he struck out 26.1% of opposing batters while working to a 3.87 ERA. The aggregate figures were remarkable; but, Abbott’s output declined sharply in the last stages. Before giving up more than six earned runs per nine in each of the last two months, he had a 2.35 ERA going into August.

Frankie Montas, an offseason acquisition, will lead the opening lineup this season as Abbott completes the group. The righty’s strong throw will be used on Opening Day when the Reds make his team debut. Hunter Greene, Graham Ashcraft, Abbott, and fellow free agency signee Nick Martinez will trail him in that order. Martinez has a wealth of starting and relief pitching experience. He will go through the rotation at least once, but if Nick Lodolo is ready for his season debut, he could return to the bullpen. The left-hander, who missed the most of the 2023 season due to a stress fracture in his left tibia, is the focus of the Reds’ trade deadline for April 2nd.

Over the weekend, Cincinnati received more concerning injury news: center fielder TJ Friedl was found to have a fractured right wrist. He will be absent for an extended period. There aren’t any center fielders of MLB caliber left in free agency at this point in the offseason.If the Reds are unable to locate support outside the organization, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports that they appear likely to rely on the tandem of Will Benson and Stuart Fairchild to cover center field.

Benson, a left-handed hitter, would be suited for the stronger side in a potential platoon configuration. Last season, the Reds limited him to 44 plate appearances by keeping him away from southpaws. Benson performed exceptionally well in advantageous platoon circumstances. In a little under 300 trips against right-handed pitching, he hit.297/.389/.549. In the Cincinnati outfield, that level of output was always going to demand a lot of playing time. The more important query is whether he can manage a middle-of-the-field role. Benson has played center field in just 88 major league games. In the corners, Statcast and Defensive Runs Saved have rated him as a very neutral defender.

A year ago, Fairchild made 97 appearances and batted.228/.321/.388. Though he was originally scheduled to exit camp and had no minor league options left, the Friedl injury forces him into a more significant fourth outfield role. Throughout his major league career, the 28-year-old has demonstrated around average offensive performance against pitchers of any handedness. Over the course of three Triple-A seasons, he had a more remarkable slash line of.275/.371/.507.I triumphed on Tuesday (as reported by Cincinnati Enquirer’s Charlie Goldsmith). Due to shoulder pain, the left-hander had to leave his Spring Training debut over the weekend.

The team did not specify a timetable for his return, but there’s no hint that it’s anticipated to be a long-term problem. For the most of the previous season, Williamson was a member of the Reds rotation. As a rookie, he worked 117 innings and started 23 games. After taking a lot of hits in his first eight starts, Williamson became a reliable back-of-the-rotation player. His 4.46 ERA at the end of his first season was a good number for a rookie pitching in one of the league’s most hitter-friendly home parks.

That came with mediocre peripherals, but if healthy, the TCU graduate still had a chance to lock down a rotation place to start the season. Bell stated that fellow lefty Andrew Abbott will have a starting position while Williamson is out. Abbott had a terrific first season, but the Reds had previously shown no commitment on that. In 21 starts, he struck out 26.1% of opposing batters while working to a 3.87 ERA. The aggregate figures were remarkable; but, Abbott’s output declined sharply in the last stages. Before giving up more than six earned runs per nine in each of the last two months, he had a 2.35 ERA going into August.

Frankie Montas, an offseason acquisition, will lead the opening lineup this season as Abbott completes the group. The righty’s strong throw will be used on Opening Day when the Reds make his team debut. Hunter Greene, Graham Ashcraft, Abbott, and fellow free agency signee Nick Martinez will trail him in that order. Martinez has a wealth of starting and relief pitching experience. He will go through the rotation at least once, but if Nick Lodolo is ready for his season debut, he could return to the bullpen. The left-hander, who missed the most of the 2023 season due to a stress fracture in his left tibia, is the focus of the Reds’ trade deadline for April 2nd.

Over the weekend, Cincinnati received more concerning injury news: center fielder TJ Friedl was found to have a fractured right wrist. He will be absent for an extended period. There aren’t any center fielders of MLB caliber left in free agency at this point in the offseason.If the Reds are unable to locate support outside the organization, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports that they appear likely to rely on the tandem of Will Benson and Stuart Fairchild to cover center field.

Benson, a left-handed hitter, would be suited for the stronger side in a potential platoon configuration. Last season, the Reds limited him to 44 plate appearances by keeping him away from southpaws. Benson performed exceptionally well in advantageous platoon circumstances. In a little under 300 trips against right-handed pitching, he hit.297/.389/.549. In the Cincinnati outfield, that level of output was always going to demand a lot of playing time. The more important query is whether he can manage a middle-of-the-field role. Benson has played center field in just 88 major league games. In the corners, Statcast and Defensive Runs Saved have rated him as a very neutral defender.

A year ago, Fairchild made 97 appearances and batted.228/.321/.388. Though he was originally scheduled to exit camp and had no minor league options left, the Friedl injury forces him into a more significant fourth outfield role. Throughout his major league career, the 28-year-old has demonstrated around average offensive performance against pitchers of any handedness. Over the course of three Triple-A seasons, he had a more remarkable slash line of.275/.371/.507.