CINCINNATI -- Injured Reds reliever Tejay Antone has been back on the field throwing again for a few days. But after his session of playing catch on Tuesday, he was thrilled to call that his best day yet.

Antone has been on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm strain since June 26. It came only two outings after he was activated from a stint on the IL because inflammation in the same forearm. He began his throwing program on Friday.

“Every day has gotten better so far,” Antone said on Tuesday afternoon. “First day was not painful but some soreness and stuff. The second day was a little less and the third day was a little less than that. Today was the best day so far. I want to keep making strides like that. I’m trying to be the absolute best rehabber I can be right now so I can get back on the field as soon as possible. I also don’t want to rush it. I’m not rushing it this time. I want to be 100 percent. I don’t want to be back on the IL again this year after I come off it this time.”

Not rushing helped influence Antone’s choice to take a platelet-rich-plasma injection in his arm to help with the healing process.

“Dr. [Tim] Kremchek told me he believed that’s what was going to kind of push me over and really help my arm heal and I trust that guy,” said Antone, who has a 1.87 ERA in 22 appearances for Cincinnati this season. “He did my Tommy John surgery [in 2017]. Whatever he says, I’m going for it.”

The plan is for Antone to begin throwing from a mound in bullpen sessions next week.

“I’m not ready to absolutely rip it yet, but it’s getting better every single day,” Antone said. “I’m happy with where I’m at. I’m making progress. I can’t complain. I’m going to stay on track, communicate with the staff and let them know exactly how I’m feeling and go from there.”

High school reunion

After completing his throwing session on Tuesday, Antone met up in the outfield with injured Mets superstar pitcher Noah Syndergaard. Both pitchers attended Legacy High School in Mansfield, Texas.

“When I played with him, he was a senior and I was a sophomore,” Antone said. “He was nasty in high school. He was like 94-98 [mph] in high school. I was a little sophomore throwing probably 86 and spot it up good.

“You ever see the pictures of him in high school? He was kind of a pudgy little fat guy with glasses. Then his senior year, that’s when he hit full puberty. He came back like five inches taller and kind of jacked. It was funny. We were like, ‘What did you do this summer?’ He was like, ‘Yeah, I did P90X.’ This was back when P90X was kind of cool. Of course, after that season during the summer, I’m like, ‘I’m going to buy P90X.’ I did it after my sophomore year. I didn’t get as jacked as him.”

The two also played against one another as younger kids in select ball.

“He was always throwing hard. I faced him hitting when I was probably 12 and 13. It was cool. Nothing to be able to hold over his head,” Antone said. “Maybe next year, I will be a starter and he will be healthy, we’ll both be healthy, and we’ll get a start against each other. Then I can get a ‘W’ and then I can hold something over his head.”

India gets on base

By reaching base six times during Monday’s 15-11 Reds loss to the Mets in 11 innings, rookie second baseman Jonathan India saw his on-base percentage reach .405, good for third in the National League and fourth in the Majors.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only two rookies have ever finished a season leading the league in OBP -- Joe Jackson for Cleveland in 1911 and Cuckoo Christensen in 1926 for the Reds.

“He’s just grown so much as a hitter in a short period of time right before our eyes. He’s always been able to hit from his whole college career,” Reds manager David Bell said. “The evolution of Jonathan as a player and a hitter, we talked about the adjustments that he’s able to make on the fly; just so competitive, loves to play, really it’s all about doing what he can to help us win. It’s a really great thing to watch happen over this year as he has become a better hitter. He’s trusting himself more, he’s going deep into counts, he’s not afraid to take pitches and get behind in the count.”