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Reds: Ranking the most likely replacements for injured starter Wade Miley

ByDrew Koch|
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tejay Antone (70) throws a pitch in the second inning of the MLB Cactus League Spring Training game. Cincinnati Reds At Los Angeles Dodgers Spring Training
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tejay Antone (70) throws a pitch in the second inning of the MLB Cactus League Spring Training game. Cincinnati Reds At Los Angeles Dodgers Spring Training
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ejay Antone #70 of the Cincinnati Reds delivers a pitch.
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 06: Tejay Antone #70 of the Cincinnati Reds delivers a pitch. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

1. Tejay Antone, Reds right-hander

There were two hard-throwing Texans in Cincinnati’s farm system heading into last season. One was Tony Santillan, the team’s second-round pick in 2015. Santillan made great strides in 2018, but went backwards in 2019 and the absence of a minor league season last year hurt his chances to rebuild the Reds’ confidence in him. Tejay Antone, however, captured the attention of the coaches and fans.

Antone is a slick, strong-armed right-handed pitcher who deals quickly. There’s no wasted motion, no dillydallying on the bump, he just grips it and rips it towards home plate and he works the entire strike zone. Antone is flat-out fun to watch and has the potential to be the biggest surprise on this year’s Reds team.

I understand the idea behind putting Michael Lorenzen into the starting rotation. The veteran has earned his stripes, has a desire to start, and having him pitch every fifth day gives David Bell a plethora of options to use 29-year-old in a myriad of other roles (pinch hitter, pinch runner, outfielder, etc.).

However, if I were managing the Cincinnati Reds, I’d keep Lorenzen in the bullpen and roll with Tejay Antone as my No. 5 starting pitcher. But, it appears as though Lorenzen has the inside track, for now, and Antone is ticketed for the bullpen. If any of the starters struggle or fall victim to injury, Antone has to be on deck.

With Wade Miley out for the foreseeable future, Antone becomes the next player in line to take spot in the Reds starting rotation. While he performed better out of the bullpen (0-1, 1.89 ERA) last season, the right-hander still put up great numbers as a starter (0-2, 3.86 ERA) as well.

If Miley is unable to go when the season begins in three weeks, Tejay Antone is the most logical choice to take his spot in the Reds rotation. However, José De León, Cionel Pérez, and others have the next couple weeks to impress the coaches and stake their claim to that potential opening as well.

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