The Cincinnati Reds sent right-handed reliever Tejay Antone to join Triple-A Louisville today on a rehab assignment. The Bats are currently in St. Paul, Minnesota. It’s been both an incredible and a tough year for Antone. He’s pitched in 22 games for the Reds this season and posted a 1.87 ERA. That’s the incredible part. But the tough part is that he’s only pitched in two games since June 6th and has had two different trips to the injured list – last pitching on June 24th against Atlanta when he allowed two runs in an inning of work. That was only the third game he had allowed a run on the season.
Cincinnati has been getting players back this past week from the injured list. Nick Castellanos and Mike Moustakas both returned, and Moustakas announced his presence with authority last night as he socked three doubles in the Reds 10-0 win. Lucas Sims has been with Louisville on rehab, but he’s close to his return as manager David Bell said on Friday afternoon that Sims could possibly be activated on Sunday. Nick Senzel is currently with the Bats on a rehab assignment, though he seems to have at least a few more games to go before he would return. The same holds true for Alex Blandino. Louisville currently seems to be made up of about half of the Reds opening day roster now that they have also added Tejay Antone.
How long the rehab stint for Antone will last is unknown. He’s been out just as long as Lucas Sims was, who last pitched on June 22nd. Sims was with Louisville beginning on July 27th and if he returns on Sunday, then it will have been 12 days of rehab time. Everyone is different, but it seems it could be a week to two weeks if the two situations are similar.
I hope it is only a week or two. He’s an amazing pitcher, and if he returns to the reds at nearly 100%, they will be unstoppable! go reds!
As much as I want Antone back SOON, I want him back HEALTHY even more. The Reds need all the dependable bullpen help they can get, and Antone has been the most dependable – when he’s pitched. Here’s hoping it’s a productive and uneventful rehab assignment.
Doug, when do you think Tejay Antone will start his rehab stint?
J/K ?
That “question mark” was suppose to be laughing emoji, just FYI.
What does Alex Blandino add?
It will be huges for the Reds to get Sims and Antone back. HEALTH going forward is the key!!
Antone
Lorenzen
Givens
Cessa
Sims
Garrett
*Hembree/Brach
*Doolittle/Wilson
* Projects to me that one of Hembree/Brach and or Doolittle/Wilson are going to be pitching for their lives over the next couple weeks. You never want someone to lose their job, but with health and the hopeful promotion of Greene and/or Lodolo this pen will look vastly different than it did before the All Star break.
Antone
Lorenzen
Givens
Cessa
Sims
Garrett
*Greene and/or **Lodolo (maybe both who knows)
*Hembree/Brach
**Doolittle/Wilson
If just one of Greene/Lodolo is promoted before September, that puts likely only one of Hembree/Brach/Doolittle/Wilson staying in the bullpen. That will be such an improved pen!!
Brach will be DFAed when Sims is activated. Doolittle will be released when Antone is activated although it is still possible that this may not occur if we do not see Antone before September 1 roster expansion. I do not see a role for either Blandino or Senzel at this point . Both stay at Louisville until then and then likely Senzel is added to the 28 along with Antone. Blandino is likely the odd man out unless they are willing to part with Doolittle or have an injury.