Williamson, Reds in first place at the all-star break
At this time last year, former NIACC pitcher Brandon Williamson was pitching for the Louisville Bats, the Triple A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.
Things have definitely changed in the last 365 days.
Williamson, a 6-foot-6 inch left-handed pitcher, made his Major League Baseball debut for the Reds on May 16 against the Colorado Rockies becoming the first player in NIACC history to play in the MLB.
The southpaw, who pitched for the Trojans in 2017-18, is 1-2 in 10 starts for the Reds, who sit in first place in the National League Central with a record of 50-41 heading into the all-star break. The Reds lead the division by one game over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Williamson, who was traded to the Reds from the Mariners in March of 2022, has 38 strikeouts and 19 walks in 46 2/3 innings pitched for the Reds. Williamson, who has a 5.21 earned run average, has allowed 44 hits and 30 runs (27 earned).
Williamson gained his first major league victory on June 13 in a 5-4 win against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. He allowed four runs (3 earned) on seven hits with one strikeout and no walks in five innings of work.
Williamson allowed one run in each of the first two innings and gave up two runs in the third inning - a two-run home run to the Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. Williamson did not allow a run in the fourth and fifth frames.
After allowing the home run to Williamson, the Reds' pitching coach Derek Johnson paid the Reds' starter a visit.
"I was getting to two strikes at a decent clip," Williamson said. "I was still leaving pitches for them to get hits with two strikes. He told me to keep getting ahead of guys but you have to be able to finish. I needed to execute my two-strike pitch better."
The Reds gave Williamson a 5-1 lead by scoring all five of their runs in the second inning.
In Williamson's MLB debut on May 16 against the Rockies, the lefty allowed one run on two hits with six strikeouts and two walks in 5 2/3 innings of work in the Reds' 3-1 win over the Colorado Rockies. At one point, Williamson set down 14 straight Colorado hitters.
CAREER MLB HIGHS
Innings pitched - 6 2/3 vs. Milwaukee Brewers (6-2-23)
Pitches - 96 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (6-7-23)
Strikeouts - 6 vs. Milwaukee Brewers (6-2-23)
Walks - 4, twice.
WILLIAMSON IN MLB
Here is a look at Williamson's 10 starts in 2023 with the Reds:
5-16-23 (at Colorado Rockies) - Williamson allowed 1 run on 2 hits with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks in 5 2/3 innings pitched. He threw 72 pitches. The Reds won 3-1 and Williamson received a no-decision.
5-22-23 (vs. St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati) - Williamson allowed 4 runs on 4 hits with 3 strikeouts and 4 walks in 4 1/3 innings pitched. He threw 84 pitches. The Reds won 6-5 in 10 innings and Williamson received a no-decision.
5-27-23 (at Chicago Cubs, Saturday night national Fox game of the week) - Williamson allowed 4 runs on 6 hits with 3 strikeouts and 3 walks in 4 1/3 innings pitched. He threw 81 pitches. The Reds won 8-5 and Williamson received a no-decision.
6-2-23 (vs. Milwaukee Brewers at Cincinnati) - Williamson allowed 3 runs on 5 hits with career-high 6 strikeouts and 2 walks in career-best 6 2/3 innings pitched. He threw 90 pitches. The Reds lost 5-4 in 11 innings and Williamson received a no-decision.
6-7-23 (vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at Cincinnati) - Williamson allowed 6 runs on 8 hits with 3 strikeouts and 2 walks in 5 2/3 innings pitched. He threw a career-high 96 pitches. The Reds won 8-6 in 10 innings and Williamson received a no-decision.
6-13-23 (at Kansas City Royals) - Williamson (1-0) gained his first MLB win allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits with 1 strikeout and no walks in 5 innings of work. He threw 78 pitches, including 51 for strikes. The Reds won 5-4.
6-19-23 (vs. Colorado Rockies) - Williamson (1-0) allowed 3 runs (all earned) on 6 hits with 5 strikeouts and no walks in 5 innings of work in his 2nd career start against the Rockies. He threw 86 pitches, including 59 for strikes and received a no-decision. The Reds won 5-4 for their ninth straight win. Reds' legend Joey Votto returned to the lineup after a 10-month absence and contributed a home run and a go-ahead, 2-run single to lead the Reds to the 1-run victory.
6-26-23 (at Baltimore Orioles) - Williamson (1-1) allowed 3 runs on 2 hits with 2 strikeouts and four walks in 2 innings of work before the game was stopped due to a rain delay. Williamson, who threw 67 pitches, took the loss as the Reds fell 10-3.
7-1-23 (vs. San Diego Padres) - Williamson (1-2) allowed 2 runs on 3 hits with 5 strikeouts and 1 walk in 5 innings of work and took the loss. Williamson started the sixth inning and allowed a hit before being taken out of the game. The Padres scored four runs in the sixth inning on their way to a 12-5 win. Williamson threw 86 pitches.
7-6-23 (at Washington Nationals) - For the second time in three starts, a rain delay shortened Williamson's start. Williamson allowed no runs on 1 hit with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk in 3 innings of work before the rain delay. Williamson, who threw 59 pitches, received a no-decision in the Reds' 5-4 10-inning victory.