New York Yankees Profiles: Jordan Montgomery, can he be the star pitcher the Yankee hope for?

Mar 5, 2020; Lakeland, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery (47) walks back to the dugout after being removed from the game in the fourth inning against the New York Yankees at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Montgomery is another New York Yankees player that has kept much of his private life private. The 27-year-old was born in Sumter South Carolina. Monty is tall, 6’6′, and weighs 225 pounds. He played baseball as a boy. When in Sumter High School he played baseball and in his senior year was named the state’s player of the year.

After high school, he enrolled in the University of South Carolina. He played for the South Carolina Gamecocks where he again received awards, this time Freshman of the week and Freshman All-American. He played well enough in college to warrant the attention of major league baseball scouts.

In the 2014 major league baseball draft, Montgomery was selected in the fourth round by our Yankees. After his college year, the Yankees limited his pitching to 19 innings as he went 1-1 with an ERA of 3.79. In 2015 Jordan was promoted to the Charleston River Dogs but shortly thereafter he was promoted again to the Florida State League for the advanced A Tampa Yankees.

Montgomery’s pitching continued to impress the Yankees and in 2016 he began the season with the Trenton Thunder but was soon promoted to the AAA Scranton Wilkes/Barre Rail Riders. While there he pitched the triple-A National Championship game in which he won for the Rail Riders.

On April 12, 2017, Monty was promoted to the major leagues where he made his New York Yankee debut against the Tampa Bay Rays in a no-decision outing. His second game he earned his first major league win against the Chicago White Sox. On June 9th he pitched a career-high seven innings while striking out eight against the Orioles. Prior to the All-Star Break, Montgomery pitched to a 3.65 ERA, striking out 87 batters in 91 and third innings. On July 25, he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the Reds. In 29 starts in 2017, Montgomery finished with a 9-7 record and a 3.88 ERA.

After six starts when he was 2-0 with an ERA of 3.86. on May 1 he left a game against the Astros with elbow tightness. He was put on the IL and it was discovered that he had a flexor strain and that he would be out 6-8 weeks. But in June other problems arose and he was scheduled to have Tommy John surgery which typically takes a year to a year and a half to recover from.

In 2019 he started the season on the 60 day IL as he recovered from the surgery.  At the end of the season, he pitched in two no-decision games. In spring training and summer camp this year Montgomery has impressed appearing to be back to full strength.

Now with the 2020 coronavirus season started Monty is happy to be back in the rotation. In his third game of the season, Jordan Montgomery will start out the tonight on the mound for the Yankees.  “Monty” is 1-1 with an ERA of 5.59.  He pitched brilliantly in his first outing against the Orioles when he went 5.2 innings only giving up a run.  But in his last outing against the Phillies, he didn’t fare as well, giving up five runs in just four innings.  Monty tonight will have to control his changeup and refind his curveball to be successful.

Montgomery has two nicknames, “Gumby” that he got in college and “Monty” used by many of his fellow players. He has two older Brothers. He has received many awards in his short career: Other than the awards mentioned earlier he has received the Pitcher of the Week twice, once for the Dogs and once for Trenton, Baseball America double-A All-Star, and Postseason All-Star while at Trenton among others.

Tonight he will want to gain form for the New York Yankees and win the first game of a two-game set against the Atlanta Braves.