Tejay Antone’s comeback from his third Tommy John surgery appears set to continue with the Cincinnati Reds organization.
According to a Friday report from MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, Antone and the Reds have agreed to a minor-league contract, though the deal hasn’t been formally finalized yet. This move would bring him back to the team after he chose free agency on November 6, joining 19 other players who left the Reds’ minor-league system.
Antone, drafted by Cincinnati in the fifth round in 2014, has spent his entire professional career with the organization. He’ll turn 32 in December, though his elbow has essentially been rebuilt multiple times.
He first underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017 and has had two more procedures within the last four years, putting him in extremely rare company. Only Jason Isringhausen and Jonny Venters have ever returned to the major leagues after having the surgery three times.
Antone returned to Triple-A at the end of the 2025 season after missing all action since April 2024. His results were rough — 17 earned runs in 15 innings split between Triple-A Louisville, Double-A Chattanooga, and High-A Dayton — but he was back to throwing 95 mph, and, most importantly, his arm functioned properly. That progress has created optimism that a normal offseason of rest and training, rather than heavy rehab, could set him up for a much stronger 2026.
A healthy Antone would be a major boost for a Reds bullpen that saw significant turnover after the 2025 season. Scott Barlow, Emilio Pagán, Nick Martinez, and Brent Suter all hit free agency, and with Cincinnati’s limited payroll flexibility, the club will likely need internal options to step forward. Antone returning to form would be a huge help.
Personally, I’m thrilled for Tejay and hope his remarkable comeback leads to more than just a feel-good story. If anyone is due for some good fortune, it’s him.
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