Tejay Antone

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Tejay Anthony Antone

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Biographical Information[edit]

Pitcher Tejay Antone made his major league debut with the Cincinnati Reds during the 2020 season. That came six years after having been a 5th-round pick by the Reds in the 2014 amateur draft, out of Weatherford College, and eight years after having first been drafted, by the New York Mets, in the 22nd round of the 2012 amateur draft as he was coming out of high school. He had briefly attended Texas Christian University before transferring to Weatherford, pitching 6 games for them as a true freshman in 2013.

He underwent Tommy John surgery for the first time as a minor leaguer in 2017 and missed that season entirely. That came after he had gone 14-7, 3.45 in 2016, pitching mainly for the Daytona Tortugas of the Florida State League. His second surgery came in the middle of the 2021 season and cost him all of 2022. After making the Reds' bullpen out of spring training in 2024, he partially tore his UCL during an April 6th appearance against the New York Mets and had to have the surgical procedure for a third time. Because the injury happened early in 2024, he was able to return to the mound before the end of the 2025 season, although he only pitched in the minors that year. As a result of his uncommon experience (few pitchers go through the surgery more than once, and only two pitchers had had it a third time and made it back to the Show), he wrote a book about his experience called The Tommy John Protocol, which provides instructions for pitchers who have to undergo the operation and also serves as an autobiography. While at spring training with the Reds in 2026, he told reporters he would want to publish it during the season, once final revisions are complete: he stated in the book that he would make the Reds' staff that spring, so that obviously was subject to confirmation.

In between his surgeries, he actually pitched pretty well in the majors. Sporting a fastball that sometimes hit triple digits, he was 0-3 but with a 2.80 ERA in 13 games in 2020, and was having a very good season, with a 2-0 record and a 2.14 ERA in 23 games when his season ended in 2021. He posted a 1.59 ERA in 5 games at the end of 2023, but managed just 4 appearances totaling 2 innings before he broke down again the following April. He considered retiring at that point, but eventually decided to go through the surgery a third time. He re-signed with the Reds after 2025 season - it was not a given since his ERA was 10.20 in 15 games between three minor league stops that year, and was a non-roster invitee in spring training in 2026. He did manage to make it back to the Show when he pitched a scoreless inning of relief and retired two batters on strikes in a 7-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs on May 6th. He had started the year in AAA with the Louisville Bats and was 1-1, 2.25 with 1 save in 12 games when he was called up.

Further Reading[edit]

  • Mark Sheldon: "After 3 elbow surgeries, he wrote the book on Tommy John", mlb.com, February 24, 2026. [1]
  • Mark Sheldon: "'This was my last chance': 3 elbow surgeries and much heartbreak later, he's back in bigs; Antone worked a perfect 8th inning in his return to the Majors", mlb.com, May 7, 2026. [2]

Related Sites[edit]

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