Reds starter Brandon Williamson completed the fifth start of his rehab assignment on Saturday, tossing four innings while allowing two hits and one earned run with Triple-A Louisville. He threw 75 pitches, 41 for strikes, issuing four walks while striking out five.
The 28-year-old left-hander has not appeared in a game for Cincinnati since April 29, when he allowed four hits and four runs on 58 pitches in three innings. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 30 with left shoulder fatigue, before injuring his finger during a workout in late June, which forced him to pause his throwing program.
Williamson began his rehab appearances with a two-inning outing for Double-A Chattanooga on Aug. 1 before joining Louisville on Aug. 6. He’s thrown 12 1/3 combined innings with both Chattanooga and Louisville, and he appears to be nearing a return to the Majors if his recovery continues to progress positively.
Reds manager Terry Francona spoke with the media in Phoenix prior to Saturday’s game against the Diamondbacks and said the club would determine next steps in the coming days.
Williamson was 2-3 with a 6.11 ERA in six starts for the Reds this season.