Brandon

Williamson

Williamson will need to undergo Tommy John surgery. The torn UCL occurred during Tuesday’s start against Atlanta, and he’ll not only miss the rest of 2024, but very likely the 2025 campaign as well.

Williamson picked up the injury during his start Tuesday against Atlanta. The 26-year-old left-hander’s season is over, and while injuries were a major part of his 2024 season, he showed enough flashes when healthy to suggest he could be a fantasy-relevant hurler in 2025.

Williamson felt some discomfort after a pitch to Michael Harris II in the second inning. He’s just four games back from a shoulder injury that caused him to miss the first five months of the season. While it’s unclear exactly what Williamson injured, an elbow or forearm injury could be significant.

Williamson mixes his four pitches well to keep hitters off balance. Many of his cutters bled over the heart of the zone, but the Cardinals’ hitters rarely made him pay because he did such a good job of varying his fastball, curveball, changeup, and cutter usage in every count. It’s a good recipe for Williamson, who lacks a true out-pitch. He’s lined up for a two start week against both the Braves and Pirates at home next week.

Williamson followed opener Fernando Cruz as the bulk-guy in this game and did well to limit the Mets’ lineup. He retired the first eight batters he faced and the only hit he gave up was a ball that Jake Fraley did well to track down, but lost as he tumbled into the side-wall. Then, Buck Farmer promptly let that inherited runner score and put Williamson on the hook. Regardless, Williamson used his cutter and changeup well and might’ve earned himself another turn in the rotation. That would come next week in St. Louis against the Cardinals.

Williamson struck out five and walked none before departing, making this a pretty successful return outing. He’s not really a fantasy option right now as he continues to get stretched out on his way back from shoulder surgery. Still, he should remain in the rotation and face the Mets next weekend.

Williamson is active Sunday to make the start against the Brewers. The southpaw has yet to make a start this year while dealing with his shoulder injury, and while there’s some long-term upside, it’d be a mistake to trust him as a streamer against the Brew Crew.

The 26-year-old southpaw has gone the rest and rehab route to treating his shoulder injury rather than undergoing shoulder surgery. Whether or not it will work long-term remains to be seen, but he’ll get back on a big-league mound on Sunday for the first time since the 2023 season.

The 26-year-old southpaw opted against having season-ending surgery to repair his left shoulder, instead opting to try the rest and rehabilitation route. He’ll throw his first bullpen session on July 23. If there are any setbacks along the way, Williamson may still need to go under the knife, but it sounds like he’s making strides in the right direction for the time being.

Instead, the 26-year-old southpaw will get injections and will be shut down from throwing for the next three weeks before starting to build back up. It’s unclear if it will work out for him in the long run, but Williamson at least wants to try this route first before going under the knife.