Reds injury news: Heartbreaking Tejay Antone update, Nick Lodolo's return date set

Tejay Antone has had his fair share of struggles over the past few seasons, but this latest setback may well threaten his career. Antone left Sunday's game against the New York Mets after throwing one pitch.

Antone winced as he released the ball and immediately grabbed his elbow. Reds catcher Luke Maile, manager David Bell, and the team's training staff all huddled around Antone on the mound, and the right-hander then turned and walked to the dugout.

Antone was supposed to be a key piece of the Cincinnati bullpen this season, and had worked extremely hard last season to return to the mound following his second Tommy John surgery. But according to Bell, Antone will be going under the knife once again.

Reds injury news: Tejay Antone to undergo elbow surgery

According to the Reds skipper, Antone will undergo surgery on Friday. Joe Danneman of FOX19 is reporting that Antone had a tendon torn from the bone and a ligament tear in his pitching elbow.

Antone is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024 season. The Reds placed Antone on the 15-day IL, and the reliever will eventually find his way onto the 60-day IL later this season (Updated: April 9). The Reds recalled Carson Spiers to take Antone's spot on the active roster.

Reds injury news: Nick Lodolo's set to return to starting rotation

Nick Lodolo is (almost) back. The former first-round pick didn't look very crisp in his rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Sunday, but it appears as though the left-hander felt good following his outing and will return to the Reds rotation on Saturday. Bell has yet to elaborate on how the team plans to allocate starts once Lodolo returns from the IL.

It's been a long road back for Lodolo, who started just seven games in 2023. The southpaw is arguably Cincinnati's best starting pitcher, and his return will surely shakeup both the rotation and the bullpen.

Lodolo threw 4.2 innings during spring training and logged another 7.2 innings of work in two starts for the Louisville Bats. Combined, Lodolo has allowed six earned runs while striking out 15 batters and walking five. Reds fans are eager to see the 26-year-old return to the mound later this week.

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