Cincinnati Reds Lose Key Bullpen Piece Until At Least Mid-Season

A bad break for the Cincinnati Reds, as a solid reliever they were counting on for a comeback this season has declared that he's been shut down in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Tejay Antone will now be out likely until at least mid-season.

Reds pitcher Tejay Antone announced on Instagram he won’t be ready for the start of the 2023 season. He said he had a PRP injection today for a flexor strain. pic.twitter.com/oCAHcUJlUX
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) February 8, 2023

Per Reds Insider Bobby Nightengale, Antone posted his own announcement on Instagram that he had a platelet-rich plasma injection for a flexor strain in his forearm, and will have to shut down his throwing program. It will obviously keep him out for quite some time, as he said he hopes to return “for the playoff push in the second half.” Of course, the Reds won't likely be making any "playoff pushes" for the foreseeable future, but he certainly has a positive outlook.

Following his second Tommy John surgery recovery, he said he'd been throwing 93-95 mph in the bullpen this offseason, was "feeling great" and was hoping to be back for the 2023 season, but his flexor "kind of gave out on me... during the build-up for spring training."

Antone's two seasons in the Cincinnati bullpen were a rousing success, as he posted a 2.48 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP over a total of 69 innings. He struck out 11.3 batters per nine innings.

Here's hoping the PRP injection speeds up his healing process and the Reds can get him back in the bullpen in the second half of the season.

Photo: Albert Cesare / The Enquirer via Imagn Content Services, LLC