Tejay Antone

A fifth-round pick in 2014, Antone was an unheralded prospect but suddenly became the talk of Reds spring training before it was paused. After sitting high-80s/low-90s in 2019, Antone was dialing it up to the high-90s and sitting 95-96 mph, which he credited to offseason weighted-ball training. Cincinnati brought Antone up the first weekend of the season and the right-hander rode that increased velocity and elite spin to a 2.80 ERA and 20.6 K-BB% over 13 appearances (four starts) during the regular season. He gets good sinking movement and keeps the ball on the ground, which is especially important in Great American Ball Park. Further, Antone has a second breaking pitch with distinctive shape to it, helping offset the lack of a true offspeed pitch. The Reds are trimming payroll and Antone looks no worse than fifth or sixth on the depth chart for starts anyway.