2014 Reds Fifth Round Pick: Tejay Antone RHP Weatherford College, Texas

Please post any info on Tejay Antone RHP Weatherford College, Texas in this thread

This is from Tom Servo in the draft thread.

Drafted out of a Texas high school in the 22nd round in 2012, Antone decided to attend Texas Christian. He barely pitched for the Horned Frogs as a freshman, then transferred to Weatherford for his sophomore season. If he doesn't turn pro this summer, he'll move on to Auburn. Antone draws mixed reviews. Scouts who like him praise his big, athletic frame and his arm strength. He works with a 91-93 mph fastball that touches 95 and features some sink and armside run, and he also flashes a promising low-80s slider. Antone's detractors question his delivery -- which features a long arm action with a hook in the back -- his secondary pitches and his toughness. He has a decent changeup that could be helpful if he refined it with more use, and he also throws a slow curveball that he might be better off scrapping. He throws strikes but needs better command.

His twitter, sounds like he will sign
https://twitter.com/TejayAntone

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Very honored that the Cincinnati Reds drafted me in the 5th round. I can't wait to get this next chapter in my life started! #Reds ⚾️

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Originally Posted by klw

His twitter, sounds like he will sign
https://twitter.com/TejayAntone

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You could say that.

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Tejay Antone ⚾ @TejayAntone · 2h
It all happened so fast but I got drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 5th round! Already signed and headedtoArizona

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Have a feeling he is this years sacrificial lamb salary wise. Picked WAY early, signed on same day. Bet you he had a pre-arranged below slot deal that allows Reds to spend more elsewhere.

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Originally Posted by JaxRed

Have a feeling he is this years sacrificial lamb salary wise. Picked WAY early, signed on same day. Bet you he had a pre-arranged below slot deal that allows Reds to spend more elsewhere.

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Evidently he signed for slot...

Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) tweeted at 10:15 PM on Fri, Jun 06, 2014:
Source: #Reds in agreement with 5th-rounder (155th) Tejay Antone. Slot value deal for $308,400.
(https://twitter.com/ChrisCotillo/sta...43950387675136)

That would make me 100% wrong.......

Fun look back in time

What a complete disaster that draft was.

Blandino and Antone. At least Tejay has been a bright spot.

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Originally Posted by Mitri

What a complete disaster that draft was.

Blandino and Antone. At least Tejay has been a bright spot.

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If you can get a starter and bench guy out of a draft, your draft wasn't a disaster.

But yeah, Antone's (hopefully continued) emergence practically saved this draft from being a nightmare.

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Originally Posted by podgejeff_

If you can get a starter and bench guy out of a draft, your draft wasn't a disaster.

But yeah, Antone's (hopefully continued) emergence practically saved this draft from being a nightmare.

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It depends on how good a starter Antone develops into.

If he can consistently earn a 2.80 ERA with a 30%+ K rate and a 12% or less BB rate, an 87 MPH exit velocity, and almost half as many hits as innings pitched, I'll totally agree. If he's more of a journeyman who can log a lot of innings at league average levels (a la Tanner Roark or Miley), that's not as great. Antone's proven interesting enough to see what happens.

(When was the last time the Reds developed a starter like that from start to finish?)