Tejay Antone burst onto the scene for the Cincinnati Reds during the shortened 2020 season, quickly becoming a key piece of the club’s “Spincinnati” movement. Over 36 appearances between 2020 and 2021, he logged 69 innings with a stellar 2.48 ERA, striking out 87 while walking just 29 and posting an impressive 0.96 WHIP. Antone’s electric stuff made him one of the Reds’ most valuable multi-inning arms during that stretch.
Unfortunately, that breakout run was cut short. Late in 2021, Antone tore the UCL in his right arm for the second time, sidelining him for the entire 2022 season. Cincinnati took a cautious approach with his recovery, and he didn’t return to full-season ball until August 2023 with Triple-A Louisville. He made it back to the majors briefly that September, tossing 5.2 innings before entering 2024 with hopes of a full comeback.
Those hopes were dashed almost immediately. In just his fourth outing of the 2024 season, Antone suffered another UCL tear—his third—and his emotional exit from that April 7 game against the Mets was heartbreaking. He knew exactly what had happened and what it would take to come back once again.
Still, Antone refused to let that moment define him. Determined to beat the odds, he began another grueling rehab, aiming to become only the third pitcher ever to return from three Tommy John surgeries. By August 2025, he was back on the mound in the minors, pitching for High-A Dayton, Double-A Chattanooga, and Triple-A Louisville. Reports from Doug Gray of Redleg Nation noted his fastball still sat around 95 mph, though his results lagged behind the velocity — allowing a .978 OPS and 17 earned runs in 15 innings.
With the offseason’s administrative shuffle now underway, Antone has elected free agency along with 19 other Reds minor leaguers. While this is routine across baseball, seeing his name among the departures — alongside players like Buck Farmer, Alex Young, Edwin Ríos, and Eric Yang — feels bittersweet given his once-bright promise in Cincinnati.
There’s always a chance for a reunion, but if this is truly the end of Antone’s Reds chapter, it’s a quiet conclusion to what was once such a thrilling rise. Wherever he lands next, Reds fans will surely be rooting for one more comeback.
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