In a moment that perfectly captures the resilience of the human spirit, Cincinnati Reds reliever Tejay Antone made an emotional return to the mound on Wednesday, May 6, at Wrigley Field—and it was a comeback three years in the making.
The right-hander delivered a flawless eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs, retiring all three batters he faced. But what made this outing truly special was the journey behind it: Antone was making his first MLB appearance since undergoing his third Tommy John surgery.
"It felt great. All of the emotions, like super-pumped in that moment," Antone said after the game, reflecting on the whirlwind of feelings that swept over him. "I came into the dugout, huge congratulations from the teammates and I walked to the end of the dugout and it kind of hit me then. Couple of tears. I had to step away for a second."
The day was filled with poignant details that made the moment even more unforgettable. According to Reds beat writer C. Trent Rosecrans, Antone's wife, Kelsi, left a work conference in Orlando to be at Wrigley Field. She arrived in the fifth inning and was later shown on the broadcast celebrating her husband's triumphant return.
Antone's path back to the big leagues wasn't without its dramatic moments. Between striking out Alex Bregman and Seiya Suzuki, he surrendered a long fly ball to Ian Happ. But Reds center fielder TJ Friedl came to the rescue with a leaping grab into the ivy, earning a tip of the cap from an appreciative Antone. After fanning Suzuki for the final out, Antone pounded his chest and let out an emotional "Let's go!" toward the Reds dugout.
His performance seemed to ignite the Reds' offense, which scored four runs in the top of the ninth to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 6-4 lead. However, the Cubs rallied for a 7-6 win in 10 innings, extending their streak to three straight walk-off victories and 14 straight home wins.
Antone's road back began after his last MLB appearance on April 7, 2024, against the New York Mets. He had previously undergone the ulnar collateral ligament surgery—commonly known as Tommy John—in 2017 as a minor-leaguer and again in 2021 as a member of the Reds. This offseason, Cincinnati signed him to a minor-league contract and sent him to Triple-A Louisville, where he worked his way back to the majors.
His return was prompted by an unfortunate injury to Reds closer Emilio Pagan, who suffered a hamstring injury in Tuesday's game. But for Antone, this was more than just a roster move—it was a testament to perseverance, dedication, and the love of the game. As he stood in the dugout, wiping away tears, it was clear that every surgery, every rehab session, and every setback had been worth it for this one perfect inning.