GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- As he recovered from a rare third ulnar collateral ligament surgery on his right elbow, Reds reliever Tejay Antone wrote a book that's a combination autobiography and instructional titled "The Tommy John Protocol."
An editor has been hired, and Antone hopes the book releases this summer. Even though one event hasn't actually happened yet, the book has a happy ending.
“I’ve already written out the part where I actually made the team out of Spring Training," Antone said on Tuesday. "If I have to go back and change the story a little bit, that’s fine. It was fun to write that out and see how I wanted it to play out.”
Antone, 32, is all too familiar with the trials and tribulations that come with Tommy John surgery. He underwent the procedure for the first time in 2017 as a Minor Leaguer. The second came in the midst of a stellar 2021 season, his first full year in the Major Leagues.
The outcome from the second surgery almost had a happy ending. Antone earned one of the last bullpen spots out of camp to make Cincinnati's Opening Day roster in '24. The emotions of the moment filled him with tears of joy.
During his fourth appearance of that season, on April 7, 2024, Antone threw one sixth-inning pitch vs. the Mets. The right flexor mass tendon was torn completely off the bone, and he partially tore his UCL again.
"That third injury put me on the brink of wanting to retire, not really wanting to play anymore," Antone said.
But Antone elected to have the surgery once more, performed by Reds orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tim Kremchek, and plotted another comeback attempt. During his recovery, he had time to share his experience.
“A lot of kids reach out to me on Instagram that just had Tommy John surgery. ‘Do you have any advice or support?’ There’s just so much I want to share with them," said Antone, who has only 32 big league appearances since 2020. "That’s kind of what pushed me to start answering the questions that I get. Philosophies, theories, tips, tricks, things that I did.”
Beginning in August, Antone made 15 appearances in the Minors. Re-signed to a Minor League contract in November, he's back in big league camp as a non-roster invitee.
Once again, Antone regained trust in his right arm after the last eight months of countless pitches without issue, recovering well and feeling good.
"What I always tell kids -- and I even have to tell myself this sometimes -- trust is not a light switch. Trust is like a dimmer switch," Antone said. "Trust is gained by doing it over and over and having success with it. And you gain a little bit of confidence every single time you do it successfully.
“I’m at the point now where I fully trust it. I’m not thinking about my arm. I’m thinking about ‘How do I execute this pitch? Where am I trying to execute this pitch?’ Everything that I should be thinking about that’s external, which is a really good spot to be in.”
On Sunday vs. the Mariners, Antone faced big league hitters for the first time in nearly two years. The leadoff batter in the top of the sixth inning was none other than 2025 American League MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh, who hit 60 home runs last season.
Antone struck out Raleigh with a slider, low and inside.
“I was like, ‘Let’s go. Feet straight to the fire.’ I loved it. I thought that was the coolest part," he said.
Antone delivered a 1-2-3 inning that was capped by Josh Naylor grounding out softly right back to him. Although no longer able to reach triple-digit velocity, Antone still topped out at 94.6 mph.
It looked like any other pitcher, except that Antone is trying to do something just two others have achieved. Jonny Venters and Jason Isringhausen also returned from three Tommy John surgeries. That's it.
“We’ll always be checking with him, just because of what he’s been through," manager Terry Francona said. "He’s kind of earned the right to be treated like everybody else. I mean that as a compliment, not to just beat him up. We check with everybody, but with him, you probably check twice.”
Antone still understands roster realities -- not only must he prove he's healthy, he will also have to show availability with an added obstacle of being a non-roster player.
"Of course I want to be in the big leagues," Antone said. "But it’s also trusting that God is going to put me exactly where I need to be. If that is Triple-A, I have to trust that. Maybe that’s the locker room and situation I need to be in, in order to influence someone. I have to trust that’s where I am in my life. I’m trying to just not worry about where I end up. But the competitor in me obviously wants to be in the big leagues.”