New York Yankees young lefty Jordan Montgomery pitched in his fourth rehab game on Tuesday, and it was successful even though the results weren’t what he wanted.
For AA Trenton, Montgomery went three innings and gave up two runs. One run scored on a poor pickoff move to first. He walked one and struck out one.
In his four rehab outings, Montgomery has pitched with three teams. On 8/25, he pitched two hitless innings for the Tampa Tarpons. On 8/30, he pitched 1.2 scoreless innings for Scranton.
The most trouble for him has been at the AA level where he is now. On 9/4, he pitched three innings and gave up two runs, but had five strikeouts and five hits allowed.
Montgomery will have a few more rehab starts left dependent on weather Trenton continues in the AA playoffs. The plan is to slowly lengthen him out, but doing so too quick could be damaging to his arm, especially after Tommy John.
The goal is to get Montgomery comfortable again this year and have him ready for next year. For all we know, he may never pitch in the bigs this year and it may not be a bad idea.
The Yankees could have him just ride the season out with Trenton and continue to pitch there. Then, the team could make him a throwing program to follow over the offseason to get him back on track and ready for 2020. The Yankees also aren’t really in much of a need for starters to return, since CC Sabathia and Luis Severino will be returning from injury any day.
The Yankees should be really cautious with Jordan Montgomery and have him stay in AA for the rest of the year.