Reds' Tejay Antone should be running away with Comeback Player honors (but he's not)

Cincinnati Reds reliever Tejay Antone is enjoying a phenomenal comeback season in 2026. In 36 appearances, the right-hander owns a 2.25 ERA and 3.70 FIP while also striking out 22.1% of the batters he's faced.

Since June 16, Antone has been even better. He's mastered his sweeper and over 19⅓ innings pitched, and has a sparkling 1.40 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. He has been the bridge to Reds' closer Emilio Pagán on multiple occasions over the last month, and he's solidified himself as a reliable late-inning option for manager Terry Francona.

Antone's story has become well known throughout Reds Country — and Major League Baseball for that matter — but it bears repeating. He didn't pitch in the big leagues at all last season while recovering from his third Tommy John surgery.

Antone began the 2024 season pitching out of the Cincinnati bullpen, but after just four appearances, he suffered an injury, and it was eventually revealed that he indeed suffered a torn UCL in his right elbow.

Antone was able to pitch once again in 2025, but spent the entire year in the minors. He logged a total of 15 innings and posted an alarming 10.20 ERA. After signing a minor-league deal during the offseason, he was one of the last cuts during spring training. He pitched well enough at Triple-A to begin the season and evenutally received a call-up back to the big leagues.

His comeback has been nothing short of inspirational, and Antone even wrote a book about his journey back to pitching in the big leagues.

One would assume that this redemption story and everything that comes with it would have PR reps in the MLB offices drooling over the idea of Antone winning this year's NL Comeback Player of the Year Award. But oddly enough, the Reds' righty is barely mentioned when discussing the award.

How is Reds' reliever Tejay Antone not leading the Comeback Player of the Year race right now?

Instead, players like Michael Harris II (Atlanta Braves), Zack Wheeler (Philadelphia Phillies), Tanner Scott (Los Angeles Dodgers), and Sandy Alcantara (Miami Marlins) are apparently leading the way in the conversation.

Harris is having a nice bounce back in 2026. After posting a .678 OPS in 2025, the Atlanta outfielder is hitting .290/.319/.491 this season. Wheeler made 24 starts and went to the All-Star Game last season, but underwent thoracic outlet decompression surgery last August.

Scott turned his 4.74 ERA in 2025 into a 2.38 ERA this season. Last year, Alcantara returned from Tommy John to and started 31 games with a 5.36 ERA. He's been much better this season and leads the league in innings pitched.

All of those players have overcome something — be it injury or poor performance — and are having terrific years. But Antone is doing something that's never been done before, and he's performing at the top of his game. If the Reds' reliever doesn't win NL Comeback Player of the Year, there's something severely wrong with the way the award is given out.

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