New Headline: Brandon Williamson Embarks on Epic Quest to Join World-Class Team!

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brandon Williamson (55) warms up with pitching coach/director of pitching Derek Johnson (36) at the Cincinnati Reds player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz. , on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.

| Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Brandon Williamson has looked the part so far this spring in Goodyear, the ‘part’ being a guy who was a former 2nd round draft pick and consensus Top 100 overall prospect. A full year off in 2025 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery has apparently allowed his left arm – and left shoulder – to regain strength, and he’s tapping back into velocity that he’d not seen in years while eyeing a spot in the starting rotation of the Cincinnati Reds. He’ll get a chance to stake another claim for a spot on the Opening Day roster on Sunday afternoon, and will do so in familiar territory over in Peoria.

That’s because he’ll be facing the Seattle Mariners, the club who originally drafted him back in 2019 before shipping him to Cincinnati alongside Jake Fraley and Justin Dunn in the deal that sent current Cincinnati slugger Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker the other way back in 2022. Sharing the mound with Williamson today will also be a former teammate of his, as George Kirby was Seattle’s 1st round pick back in the same draft where they took Williamson in the 2nd. Sadly, there’s no TV feed for this one, so you’ll have to lean on Gameday and 700 WLW’s radio coverage to follow along.