By Christopher Saunders
The Yankees have really been able to load up their farm system over past year and half acquiring top prospects such as Clint Frazier and Gleyber Torres.
Jordon Montgomery is not one of the big names, however, he came into the spring as their most MLB-ready starting pitcher prospect. Last season the 24-year-old southpaw had a 2.19 ERA with a twenty two percent strikeout to seven percent walk rate 152 total innings between Double-A and Triple-A.
Over the last few seasons as is every camp there will be players whom surprise during spring training and really open the eyes of the coaching staff.
In 2016 Luis Cessa, Johnny Barbato, and Kriby Yates made the Opening Day roster for the bombers, while in 2015 Chris Martin and Chasen Shreve made a splash in camp. It’s safe to say that guys making a bullpen out of spring training is like going to the casino.
That being said, Montgomery is an actual prospect like Cessa, not a journeyman like Yates.
If you impress in camp, the Yankees and every other club will bring you with them for the regular season.
While spring training Stats aren’t a carry over to the season, when a young guy unexpectedly emerges in spring training and opens the eyes of the front office, coaches, and fans alike, one would think his numbers outstanding.
Montgomery to this point has ok numbers, but nothing to grab your attention you’d assume right?.
With that being said, while Montgomery has not necessarily impressed with his numbers and performance, he’s impressed the coaching staff by locating his three fastballs.
The four-seamer has good life at the end of the zone. The sinker has nice boring sink at bottom of the zone while the cutter starts right and cuts four-five inches inside, however, to RH hitters he needs to improve on front door/inside to jam hitters and reduce weak contact.
Montgomery’s two offspeed pitches are the curveball and changeup he throws. Repeating his delivery well, and by not unraveling when things don’t go his way. Montgomery has a very calm, steady, and well thought out approach on the mound and people are noticing.
For a polished 24-year-old pitcher with Triple-A experience who has been successful everywhere he’s played, and if the Yankees deem him one of their 12 best pitchers at the end of spring training, he should absolutely be on the Opening Day roster. There’s no reason to hold him back.
Montgomery is ready to help, even if it’s in an unfamiliar role out of the bullpen
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