After incredible comeback, Antone makes the roster

MESA, Ariz. — In 2023, on the day before Cincinnati Reds reliever Tejay Antone left for spring training, he wasn’t sure if he’d ever throw another pitch. In a long conversation, Antone asked his wife, Kelsi, if he should retire.

Kelsi encouraged him to keep going, despite all the arm injuries that had kept Tejay Antone on the injured list for more than two full seasons.

Recently, Tejay and Kelsi had another emotional conversation. Tejay told his wife that he made the Reds’ 2024 Opening Day roster.

“I was crying earlier,” Antone said. “It’s a journey. We’re a team. We do everything together. It really is a journey. I couldn’t do this process by myself. She has been there for me 100%. That’s how relationships should work.”

Antone, who returned from his second Tommy John surgery and pitched in five MLB games in September of 2023, claimed one of the final spots in the Reds’ bullpen for the start of the 2024 season.

Last year, Antone had come to terms with the fact that he might never pitch again because of his injuries. Kelsi told him to put less pressure on himself and give pitching another shot.

“I decided that if I make it, awesome,” Tejay Antone said last year. “If I don’t, awesome.”

Now, Antone has made it onto the Reds’ Opening Day roster for the first time since 2021. He’s a much different pitcher now than he was back then.

Coming off of two surgeries, Antone stopped chasing velocity and embraced a new sinker.

“I’m out there pitching now,” Antone said. “I’m locating, making the ball move, changing speeds, changing hitter’s timing. I’m landing curveballs really well right now.”

Earlier in camp, Reds manager David Bell told Antone that he was competing for a spot. Antone said that he had assumed that he was in a good position in the roster battle in the bullpen. “That was probably pretty naive of me,” Antone recognizes now.

Antone said that his conversation with Bell “lit a fire in (his) butt.”

Antone had a strong finish to spring training to earn his spot on the Opening Day roster.

“His makeup and his character just continue to shine,” Bell said.

“He’s grown incredibly. He’s at a point where he just brings people along with him through his outlook and his attitude. Really happy for him. He deserves it.”

Roster nearly complete

Twenty five of the 26 spots on the Opening Day roster are set, and one more player will be added to the big league roster before the start of the season.

On Friday, the Reds assigned first baseman Mike Ford and reliever Tony Santillan to minor league camp. Bell also announced that reliever Sam Moll, who was slowed in camp by a shoulder injury, will open the year on the injured list because he needs more time to ramp up for the season.

Ford was granted his release and is no longer in the organization.

The Reds will still have to add one more position player to the roster before the start of the season, and they’re looking at both external options and internal options.

In the organization, outfielders Bubba Thompson and Jacob Hurtubise are candidates for a spot on the roster.

Here is where the Reds roster stands entering the weekend.

Catcher: Tyler Stephenson, Luke Maile

Infield: Christian EncarnacionStrand, Nick Martini, Jonathan India, Elly De La Cruz, Jeimer Candelario, Santiago Espinal

Outfield: Spencer Steer, Will Benson, Jake Fraley, Stuart Fairchild

Rotation: Frankie Montas, Hunter Greene, Graham Ashcraft, Andrew Abbott, Nick Martinez

Bullpen: Alexis Díaz, Emilio Pagán, Lucas Sims, Brent Suter, Buck Farmer, Fernando Cruz, Justin Wilson, Tejay Antone