Call to the pen
Fansided

A dozen MLB rookies playing very well under the radar

By Benjamin Chase

Jun 14, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians center fielder Bradley Zimmer (4) scores on a sacrifice fly ball in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians center fielder Bradley Zimmer (4) scores on a sacrifice fly ball in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Jordan Montgomery, LHP, New York Yankees

When the Yankees opened up their competition for the 5th spot in the rotation this spring, it opened the door for a number of players to step up and take the spot. However, after spring training, it was easy to tell who would get the opening gig. While spring training stats aren’t perfectly translated (see: Tanaka, Masahiro), Montgomery threw the most quality innings of any of the 5th starter options, and he added another lefty to the Yankees rotation.

The Yankees didn’t need a 5th man the first turn through the rotation, so Montgomery opened at AAA, but after one start there, he moved into the Yankee rotation, and he’s been very comfortable there ever since, with a 4-4 record over 12 starts, throwing 69 nice innings, with a 3.78 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and a 24/66 BB/K ratio.

More than that, Montgomery has given the Yankees a consistent arm out every time through the order, and while it took some time for his long, 6’6″ frame to get consistent in his mechanics after being drafted in 2014 by the Yankees out of South Carolina, Montgomery is a picture of consistency at this point.

While the height and left-handedness have Yankee fans discussing Andy Pettitte, I think he reminds me more on the mound in his approach of Jon Lester, using the good movement he gets on his two-seamer and slider to set up the four-seamer and curve as it works up and down in the zone.

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