Former NIACC pitcher, current Reds starter Williamson has UCL tear, needs Tommy John surgery

CINCINNATI — Former NIACC pitcher and current Cincinnati Reds starter Brandon Williamson has told reporters that he has a full ulnar collateral ligament tear and will undergo Tommy John surgery.

Williamson left Tuesday night’s game against Atlanta, with the Reds originally announcing that he had a strained left elbow. A further diagnosis revealed that it was not a strain but that it was a tear of the ligament on the inside of the elbow that helps stabilize the joint.

With Williamson saying he needs Tommy John surgery, it means he’s likely out until the 2026 season.

Williamson was a second-round pick in the 2019 draft by the Seattle Mariners after pitching at NIACC during the 2017 and 2018 seasons and at Texas Christian University in 2019.