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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona
Brandon Williamson makes his fourth audition for one of the two spots open in the Reds' starting rotation. He is coming off a lost year of injury.
The 27-year old was the second round pick of the Seattle Mariners in the 2019 draft. He came to the Reds along with Connor Phillips, who is also scheduled to pitch against the Mariners today. Other in that trade were Justin Dunn and Jake Fraley for Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker in just before the delayed spring training on March 29, 2022.
Williamson is slated to pitch three innings. Should he win a spot in the rotation the earliest he would pitch in the regular season would be March 30 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
So far Williamson pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk. He recorded nine strikeouts.
The lineup behind Williamson is:
Matt McLain 2B
Spencer Steer LF
Elly De La Cruz SS
Sal Stewart 1B
Tyler Stephenson C
Noelvi Marte CF
Rece Hinds RF
Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B
Blake Dunn DH
Marte is in center field for no other reason the Reds want to have him experience it.
"We don't want to get into the season and need him to move to center field and say 'dang it I wish we'd have done it in spring training," Terry Francona said. "We aren't trying to re invent the wheel. We're covering our options. It just makes sense to do it here."
Steer has played both corner outfield positions, second base and first base.
The Reds have been using Stewart at second base and third base which are positions he played in the minor leagues. They put him at first base late last season, a position he'd never played.
"We put Sal at first out here as much as possible because that's he's played," Francona said.
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