Last December the Dodgers engineered a three-way trade in which they sent prospects Scott Schebler, Jose Peraza and Brandon Dixon to the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds in turn sent All-Star third baseman Todd Frazier to the Chicago White Sox leaving many Dodger fans wondering why Andrew Friedman didn’t just complete a two-way trade with the Reds acquiring Frazier, a former first round pick in the process. Instead the Dodgers President of Baseball Operations netted what he felt was a better, longer lasting catch reeling in pitcher Frankie Montas, outfielder Trayce Thompson and second baseman Micah Johnson. Montas, now ranked as the Dodgers number five prospect, had previously been traded to the White Sox in another three way trade.

Frankie Montas being interviewed during the Dodgers annual FanFest event on January 30, 2016.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

He was signed by the Red Sox out of the Dominican Republic in 2009 and had worked his way to the AA Birmingham Barons of the Southern League in 2015 as a 22-year old. After posting a 2.97 ERA with the Barons along with 108 strikeouts in 112 innings Montas was a September call up by the White Sox. In seven appearances, two of them starts, he had a 4.80 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 15 innings. His ERA was inflated by one bad outing.

Montas was considered one of the hardest throwing starters in the game reaching as high as 102 mph on the radar gun and maintaining mid-90s heat into the late innings of a game. His fastball is described as having sink and cutting action but can be flat if he overthrows it. His slider can also be challenging for hitters as he can dial it up to the mid-80s. Montas undoubtedly was the center piece that the Dodgers were after in the trade with the White Sox.

“Frankie Montas has a tremendous right arm. Our scouts feel his fastball/slider combo is one of the best in the minor leagues,” Andrew Friedman stated. “There’s no question in my mind he could step into a major league bullpen right now. But we’re more of the mind to develop him as a starting pitcher.”

Only days after arriving arriving at Camelback Ranch for spring training 2016, Montas went under the knife for rib resection surgery. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

While the debate was being had regarding Montas’ future with the Dodgers, that is as a starter or a reliever, news came in February that he had a stress reaction in his rib. He was to be out for two to four months as a result of a rib resection procedure to be performed in Dallas, Texas by Dr. Greg Pearl, the same physician who removed a rib from Dodgers pitcher Josh Beckett in 2013 to relieve pressure caused by Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

Somewhat on schedule Montas, although perhaps a bit surprisingly, has already hit 100 mph on the radar gun during a two inning extended spring training outing on Thursday, May 19. It seems he is still one of the hardest throwers in the game. The questions around his role surfaced again and the plan has not yet changed since he was acquired last December. Even though the Dodgers need bull pen help Montas will not be rushed to help fill any void in the big league pen. In any event because he is on the 60-day disabled list, he cannot be activated from his rehab until June 3.

“I think that at this point we’re still building him up as far as his pitch count to give us the flexibility if we need a starter,” Roberts said. “We can always back him off a little bit. I assume he’s coming out of the pen to piggyback. I assume he’ll start the next game.”

Frankie Montas made his first appearance with the Drillers on a fine Sunday afternoon against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. The Drillers were looking for a boost having lost seven of eight games against the Naturals in April and May.

Montas was on a pitch limit of 35 and an innings limit of two as he started the game for the Drillers. His fastball reached 96 mph and his slider came in at 91 mph. Over two innings and 26 pitches he struck out two and walked one. He gave up two hits, a bunt single and a long home run by Naturals catcher Zane Evans which gave the home team a 1-0 lead.

Reliever Logan Bawcom followed Montas for three innings and was also victimized by catcher Zane Evans who launched a two-run home run to left field increasing the Naturals lead to 3-0.

Right-hander Seth Frankoff was greeted in the bottom of the sixth inning with a triple by first baseman Ryan O’Hearn. During the fifth, sixth and seventh inning Drillers play-by-play announcer Dennis Higgins had former major league player Mike Sweeney as his guest, the two still best friends. Sweeney is a special assistant to Kansas City Royals General Manager Dayton Moore. During their conversations Frankoff escaped the inning with a ground out and two strikeouts. He followed that up with a perfect seventh inning.

Jordan Schafer came on to pitch the bottom of the eight inning making his 14th appearance on the season. On a 3-1 pitch shortstop Ramon Torres lined a home run into left center field putting Northwest Arkansas up 4-0.

The suspense for Tulsa fans was not if the Drillers could pull the game out of the fire but if they could avoid a third straight shutout at the hands of the Naturals having gone into the ninth inning without scoring a run in 27 consecutive innings.

Willie Calhoun opened the Drillers half of the ninth inning with a bunt single down the third base line against the shift. Alex Guerrero followed with a fly ball to left center field. Outfielders Carlos Garcia and Terrance Gore collided allowing Guerrero’s ball to fall for a two base error. Calhoun finally scored on a ground out by Alex Verdugo. Jacob Scavuzzo lined a ball off pitcher Yender Caramo’s glove cutting the deficit in half.

Left-hander Tim Hill came in to relieve Caramo and was promptly greeted with singles by lefties Cody Bellinger and Lars Anderson. The hits coupled with an error allowed the Drillers to tie the game at four.

Following a single up the middle in the top of the eleventh inning by Jacob Scavuzzo, Cody Bellinger hit a two run shot to right field putting the Drillers up 6-4.

Ralston Cash came on in the bottom of the eleventh inning facing the heart of the Naturals order and preserved an unlikely 6-4 win for the Drillers.