Reds manager David Bell offers positive news on Tejay Antone injury update

While kids throughout the tristate area will be grabbing their bookbags and returning to school around mid-August, Cincinnati Reds reliever Tejay Antone may be headed back to the mound.

According to Bally Sports' Brian Giesenschlag, Antone could be back in the Reds bullpen as early as August 19th. What a long road it's been for the right-hander.

Antone injured himself during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers back in 2021. After leaving that game on August, Antone would undergo Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career. The reliever missed all of last season and has been steadily working his way back to the big leagues.

Reds manager offers positive news on Tejay Antone injury update.

Tejay Antone was the Cincinnati Reds best reliever during that 2021 season. If the former fifth-round pick can be anything close to what he was during that dominant stretch a little less than two years, then Cincinnati may not need to address the bullpen at the trade deadline.

Antone pitched in 33.2 innings that season and owned a 2.14 ERA with 42 strikeouts and a WHIP of just 0.891. This followed a rookie season for Antone that saw him make 13 appearances, both as a starter and reliever, while racking up 45 punch outs in 35.1 innings during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

Tejay Antone won't be the only Reds reliever who's looking to return from a major injury later this season. It sounds as if Vladimir Gutierrez, who underwent Tommy John surgery himself, could be back on the mound next month as well.

There haven't been any recent injury updates as to the status of Reiver Sanmartin and Justin Dunn, though the former New York Mets prospect was slated to return to the Reds sometime in September. Nick Lodolo, who is also on the 60-day IL, should be back sometime in August as well.