A day after pitching in a spring training game against the Texas Rangers where he threw a shutout inning of relief, Tejay Antone was sent back to minor league camp in another day of roster cuts that has been trimming the number of relievers with the big league club. Sunday was the third day in a row in which the Cincinnati Reds made a round of cuts that involved just one player and that player happened to be a relief pitcher. In the previous two days the team sent Yunior Marte and Lyon Richardson back to the minors. Cincinnati is down to 39 players in camp, with two of those set to begin the season on the injured list.
This year Tejay Antone is trying to return to the Major Leagues after having a third Tommy John surgery. If he can do that he would be just the third player to ever do that as far as we’re aware. Only Jonny Venters and Jason Isringhausen have done so previously.
Antone returned to the mound late in 2025 in the minor leagues with the Reds, essentially as a part of his rehab process after his third surgery. He was a free agent after the year was over, but he quickly re-signed with Cincinnati to stay in the organization and the team gave him an invite to big league camp as a part of that deal.
The spring started out well for Antone as he made three straight outings without giving up a run, allowing just one total hit, and he walked just one batters while striking out three. But on March 9th against the Athletics he ran into troubles as he allowed three runs in 0.2 innings on two walks and two hits. Three days later he was back on the mound and gave up two more runs in an inning of work against the Dodgers while giving up three hits and a walk. On Saturday he was back out there and had a shutout inning against Texas in the first game of the spring in which he didn’t record a strikeout.
Overall he pitched in six games and allowed five runs on seven hits and four walks in 5.2 innings while striking out seven batters. That’s good for a 7.94 ERA in his limited number of outings. This spring his velocity was down a bit from where he was when he first came up, but he was still throwing 93-95 MPH. He also made some changes to arsenal by adding a cutter and changing how both of his breaking balls move a little bit when compared to what they looked like in the past.
For now he’ll be back in the minor leagues trying to find a little more consistency with his stuff and his control and be looking for an opportunity to get back to Cincinnati if and when the chance shows itself. You can see Antone’s career stats here.
Not surprising, as he clearly still needs work before he’s ready to pitch in the big leagues again, if ever.
His velocity drop in particular shows he still has a ways to go. Or maybe he simply isn’t capable of throwing in the high 90’s any more?
Either way, I’m rooting for him, but at the same time don’t expect anything from him. If he becomes a serviceable pitcher in the majors, I will be pleasantly surprised. But I don’t think anyone should count on it.
I just hope his elbow doesn’t explode again. I honestly didn’t think he’d be back after the last one. I have to commend him for loving the game so much that he was willing to go through a grueling rehab not once, not twice, but three times, just to have a chance to play baseball again.
Think his biggest need for a third surgery was a problem with the second one that didn’t completely take care of the problem and led to the need for a third. Might be the reason Greene is relying more on his California orthopedist than the local alternative.
One has to respect TJ’s resilience and fortitude, but the odds were always against him. Maybe he does well in Louisville and fights his way back to Cincinnati. It would be a great story. Sadly, it’s unlikely. Best of luck to him.
Maybe he will be able to spend the season in AAA and make a late callup for a Antone day and then retire? Or not even spend the whole season in AAA. Seems like he would make a good announcer someday for the Reds (color commentator).
Who wouldn’t be rooting for Tejay Antone? This guy has a such a big heart, so much spirit and determination.
At least he will be pitching at AAA level, and building his arm strength.
And I doubt his velocity comes back (much) after three ligament replacement surgeries, but the fact he is even pitching competitively is a kind of victory for him.
We’ll see what happens at AAA level, and how well he can pitch and be successful. Everybody in the Red’s organization knows who he is, and have to be rooting for him.
Of course it’s impressive he’s back this far, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he’s in MLB this season, and perhaps quite a bit. He clearly needs some innings in AAA, and the Reds are not at all desperate on the 26 man staff, even in the bullpen.
His age and recovery are actually advantages in that regardless of options, he can be called up and down all season with little chance another team could claim him. Why would they, considering the risks and performance. He’s on a MiLB deal in any event, and not on the 40-man at present. If he performs very well, excellent and he’ll well deserve whatever terms he can negotiate.
I’ll cheer anyone on that will continue to grind and try to defy the odds. Wishing him the best.
This guy is a GUY! So long as his arm holds up, I fully expect he will put up good numbers at Louisville as he refines his new pitch action. He has an arsenal that will work for someone who can read swings the way he does! He will be back. He will probably make a great pitching coach in the future as well. This is his life and he will adapt.
Add my hope and prayers for him to make the big show again. For me it was must see tv before his elbow gave out when he was called on to pitch. He had some of the best stuff I have seen in a very long time.
It is for the best for him and the team.
Last year when he got back into minor league games his ERA was over 10 and he gave up 23 hits and 9 walks in 15 innings. This spring he had an ERA of nearly 8 and allowed 11 baserunners in 5 2/3 innings. He has to show that he can pitch better. Rooting for him to do just that. What a great story it would be.
Heard a rumor that Danner might make the bullpen. I Also think Moll should make the team. Yes, he has given up some walks, but he seems to know how to pitch out of trouble which is important for this Reds bullpen.
Sam Moll? The guy who had an ERA over 6 last year with the Reds and an ERA of 5 in AAA last year with Louisville? That does not sound like a guy who can pitch out of trouble. Or at least could not do it last season.
Well, Hagen Danner and Anthony Misiewicz still survive the cuts…this week is pivotal for those guys joining Phillips, Maxwell, Mey and Moll….Tito apparently said it’s unlikely Brandon Williamson is going to be part of Reds bullpen, he will be on the big league or Triple-A rotation
I will always root for Tejay. When he first came up he would host a Twitch Video Game stream and I got to interact with him like many. Really down to earth good dude.