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May 11—On Sunday, May 10, Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Tejay Antone recorded his 100th career strikeout.
He recorded 45 of them in 2020. He recorded 42 of them in 2021. The other 13 strikeouts took five years to get.
It's been worth the wait.
Antone has become the third pitcher in big league history to make it back after a third Tommy John surgery. He had the surgery for the first time when he was a minor leaguer. The second surgery ended his 2021 season, and he was out until September of 2023. The third surgery took place in April of 2024.
McCoy: Abbott dazzles on Mother's Day as Reds beat Houston 5-0
He has made an incredible comeback.
"That was something I personally wanted, to do it all with the Reds," Antone said. "I love the Reds. I love the fanbase. I can't thank them enough for the support along the way. I had the opportunity in the offseason to become a free agent and sign somewhere else. Through all the conversations I had with the Reds, I wanted to come back here to finish that story. It's been a blessing and an honor to be with the Reds (organization) for 12 seasons now. I'm a Red for life."
Antone, 32 years old, was a fifth-round pick by the Reds in the 2014 MLB Draft. He debuted in 2020 as a standout starting pitching prospect. The Reds moved him to the bullpen in 2021, and he was one of the best relievers in MLB for the first two months of that season. He has barely pitched since June of 2021 due to elbow injuries.
"It's hard for anyone to imagine going through three Tommy Johns," reliever Sam Moll said. "It's perseverance. To still have that positive mindset, to get back, I told him, 'That had to feel good.' With all of the work he has put in, he has pitched well. He earned his way back."
Antone was removed from the 40-man roster at the end of the 2024 season, but he continued attempting his comeback with the Reds' organization. He was ready for spring training in 2026, and he made a strong impression with the way he pitched in Goodyear, Arizona.
When he didn't make the team out of spring, Antone reported to Triple-A Louisville and impressed with his command as well as his ability to get swing and miss. While he doesn't throw 100 mph like he used to, he can still get outs.
Ask Hal: Will we ever see Elly De La Cruz pitch?
Antone has developed a six-pitch mix, and it's been successful through three big league appearances in 2026.
"It's not just this moment and then it's done," Antone said. "There's so much more now that I want to do. I want to keep playing for another five-or-10 years."
Antone joined the Reds' active roster last Wednesday, May 6 after closer Emilio Pagán went on the injured list. Antone's wife made a last-minute flight to watch his triumphant return.
His first game back was a night that he'll remember forever. But now, his mindset turns to what's next.
"Now that I've made it back, being able to still be focused on my process each and every day to be the best version of myself each day, that's where I'm always at," Antone said. "From there, I'll let the results take care of themselves."
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He recorded 45 of them in 2020. He recorded 42 of them in 2021. The other 13 strikeouts took five years to get.
It's been worth the wait.
Antone has become the third pitcher in big league history to make it back after a third Tommy John surgery. He had the surgery for the first time when he was a minor leaguer. The second surgery ended his 2021 season, and he was out until September of 2023. The third surgery took place in April of 2024.
McCoy: Abbott dazzles on Mother's Day as Reds beat Houston 5-0
He has made an incredible comeback.
"That was something I personally wanted, to do it all with the Reds," Antone said. "I love the Reds. I love the fanbase. I can't thank them enough for the support along the way. I had the opportunity in the offseason to become a free agent and sign somewhere else. Through all the conversations I had with the Reds, I wanted to come back here to finish that story. It's been a blessing and an honor to be with the Reds (organization) for 12 seasons now. I'm a Red for life."
Antone, 32 years old, was a fifth-round pick by the Reds in the 2014 MLB Draft. He debuted in 2020 as a standout starting pitching prospect. The Reds moved him to the bullpen in 2021, and he was one of the best relievers in MLB for the first two months of that season. He has barely pitched since June of 2021 due to elbow injuries.
"It's hard for anyone to imagine going through three Tommy Johns," reliever Sam Moll said. "It's perseverance. To still have that positive mindset, to get back, I told him, 'That had to feel good.' With all of the work he has put in, he has pitched well. He earned his way back."
Antone was removed from the 40-man roster at the end of the 2024 season, but he continued attempting his comeback with the Reds' organization. He was ready for spring training in 2026, and he made a strong impression with the way he pitched in Goodyear, Arizona.
When he didn't make the team out of spring, Antone reported to Triple-A Louisville and impressed with his command as well as his ability to get swing and miss. While he doesn't throw 100 mph like he used to, he can still get outs.
Ask Hal: Will we ever see Elly De La Cruz pitch?
Antone has developed a six-pitch mix, and it's been successful through three big league appearances in 2026.
"It's not just this moment and then it's done," Antone said. "There's so much more now that I want to do. I want to keep playing for another five-or-10 years."
Antone joined the Reds' active roster last Wednesday, May 6 after closer Emilio Pagán went on the injured list. Antone's wife made a last-minute flight to watch his triumphant return.
His first game back was a night that he'll remember forever. But now, his mindset turns to what's next.
"Now that I've made it back, being able to still be focused on my process each and every day to be the best version of myself each day, that's where I'm always at," Antone said. "From there, I'll let the results take care of themselves."
Continue reading...
