Tejay Antone’s season was the kind of comeback story that usually gets a spotlight all its own. Instead, when Major League Baseball handed out its Comeback Player of the Year Award, the Reds right-hander was left in the background while Zack Wheeler took the National League honor and Yordan Alvarez won in the American League.
That doesn’t mean Wheeler’s case was flimsy. The Phillies ace came back from venous thoracic outlet syndrome, a surgery, and months of rehab, then returned to his usual level of dominance in 2026. He was still pitching in the majors until late August in 2025 and finished with a 2.71 ERA across 24 starts.
But Antone’s path was on another level of difficulty. He hadn’t appeared on a big league mound since April 5, 2024, and then had to fight through a third Tommy John surgery in 2026 just to get back. For a pitcher trying to reestablish himself after that kind of absence, the award race was always going to be an uphill climb.
Part of the problem was recognition. Antone’s story is familiar to Reds fans, but he doesn’t carry the same national profile as a lot of past winners. The award list tends to lean toward players who are already household names, with previous winners including Justin Verlander, Salavador Perez, Buster Posey, Cody Bellinger, and Ronald Acuña Jr.
Once he was back, Antone gave Cincinnati exactly what a comeback candidate is supposed to give. He became one of the most dependable arms in the bullpen, making 58 appearances, throwing 55 innings, striking out 57 batters, and finishing with a 3.11 ERA.
With Emilio Pagán now gone to the Detroit Tigers, Antone could even be in line for a bigger role in 2027. Whether or not the award voters noticed, the Reds reliever put together the kind of return that stands on its own.
Antone may not have won the MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award, but he’s undoubtedly satisfied just to be back in the big leagues. The 32-year-old is an inspiration to so many others and has even written a book about his experience.
In Other News...
Elly De La Cruz Just Gave Reds Fans A New Debate
Sal Stewarts Rookie of the Year season gave the Reds a new offensive centerpiece, but the conversation around Cincinnatis infield got a little more interesting when the All-MLB teams were announced. Elly De La Cruz landed on the Second Team at shortstop, a recognition that still puts him among the games elite and keeps his name in the same breath as the best players at the position.
Bobby Witt Jr. took the First Team spot, which is where the debate starts for Reds fans who have watched De La Cruzs all-around impact grow. He finished second among shortstops in batting average and led the group in slugging percentage and OPS, a combination that only adds fuel to the argument about where he belongs on the sports top tier. Meanwhile, Tejay Antones comeback after his third Tommy John surgery was one of the years better feel-good stories in Cincinnati, even if his return to 58 games did not land him among the National League comeback player finalists. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Krall Just Raised An Uncomfortable Elly De La Cruz Question
Emilio Pagns decision to opt out and reportedly land with the Detroit Tigers only adds to an offseason that already has the Reds juggling a few important roster questions. Cincinnati has several key free agents to sort through, but the biggest one hanging over the front office is still Elly De La Cruz, the dynamic centerpiece who gives the club its most electric presence and, in many ways, its clearest path forward.
Nick Krall said the Reds want to keep De La Cruz long-term, which is the easy part of the conversation. The harder part is the one he left open by not shutting the door on a future trade, even while saying there have been no trade talks this offseason. For a team trying to balance present ambition with long-term control, that leaves De La Cruz as both the obvious answer and the uncomfortable question. [Read more 🡒]
Former Reds Coach Derek Johnson Just Took An Unexpected Next Step
Derek Johnsons next stop came together faster than many around the Reds likely expected. The longtime pitching coach, who was recently replaced in Cincinnati, has landed with the New York Mets in an advisory role, giving him a new home in the game after his stint with the Reds ended following a leave of absence during the 2023 season.
The setup in New York is a little different from the grind Johnson had in Cincinnati. His new position does not require daily travel with the club, which makes it a more flexible arrangement as he remains part of a major league organization without the full-time demands of a traditional dugout job. For a Reds team moving on from a familiar voice in its pitching room, it is another reminder of how quickly the coaching carousel can turn. [Read more 🡒]