It’s been a tough start to the season for the Cincinnati Reds bullpen. But if you’re looking for some potentially good news then Tejay Antone had it for you on Wednesday night. The right-handed reliever announced that he would begin throwing next week.
In 2020 Tejay Antone came out of nowhere to become a dominant pitcher for the Reds in the abbreviated season. After not being ranked in the Top 25 prospects for Cincinnati following the 2019 minor league season, Antone showed up in February for spring training throwing about 4-5 MPH harder than he had thrown the previous season and it made a huge difference. Antone would throw 35.1 innings in 2020 with a 2.80 ERA while striking out 45 batters. Establishing himself as a bullpen ace, Antone got even better in 2021 as he posted a 2.14 ERA in 33.2 innings with 42 strikeouts. But after missing two months in the middle of the season he returned on August 24th and threw seven pitches before exiting the game with an injury.
Shortly after he would undergo Tommy John surgery. It was the second time he was going to have his UCL in his pitching elbow replaced. That led to him missing all of the 2022 season. After a lengthy rehab, Antone was getting ready for spring training and experienced a strain in his flexor muscle in his pitching arm. In February he would get a PRP injection to help air in the recovery.
Just a little bit more than two months later and Antone is going to begin throwing. He’s likely a ways away from returning the the mound for Cincinnati. He’s on the 60-day injured list, so he’s not going to be available to return until May 31st at the earliest point in the 2023 season. Still, it’s always good to see a guy start to return from an injury and hopefully things will go a bit more smooth this time.
Good to see. Hope he makes it back.
Me too. I really like Tejay
We clearly need help in the bullpen and he would be a great addition. I guess the question is who goes? We have about 4-5 who are not working out.
Perhaps a bit premature to start thinking about who goes, considering Antone has not yet started throwing, he is not eligible to come off the 60 day until late May, his previous return to throwing led to another stint on the 60 day. Those 4-5 are all ‘working out’ better than Antone so far, considering that they are actually ‘working out’.
The easier question is who stays!
Fingers crossed but PRP injections are never a good sign.
I already assumed Antone’s career was over. I have zero expectations, so getting anything at all from him would shock me.