One of the biggest stories in Major League Baseball has been the charge toward the postseason by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Overshadowing this has been another development regarding Jordan Montgomery, the prized free-agent signing for 2024 who was demoted from the starting rotation. The move has opened discourse over Montgomery’s performance and his future with the team.
Arizona Diamondbacks Fine Start Upended
There was much expectation when the Diamondbacks inked Jordan Montgomery to a $25 million contract in March. The 6-foot-6 southpaw was coming off a fantastic postseason with the Texas Rangers, playing a leading role in their World Series victory. The team hoped his arrival could be the big raise their rotation needed. He currently seems far from that promise.
It has just been a tough year on every level for Montgomery, despite high hopes. Manager Torey Lovullo announced that Montgomery would no longer be in the rotation after struggling all year with a disappointing 6.44 ERA. That will mean that Montgomery, who has started 159 of his 160 career appearances to this point, will head to the bullpen as Ryne Nelson has been pitching well.
Montgomery transitioning into a reliever is a big adjustment. Since entering the Major Leagues with the New York Yankees back in 2017, the right-hander has been solely a starter. This could be rough on him, also taking into consideration prior experiences and pressure to perform in high-stakes environments.
Impact On The Team
Unfortunately for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Montgomery is struggling at the worst possible time. The team is making a strong push for the postseason and needs all its players to perform at their best. His problems have opened up a chasm in the rotation, which the team is trying to fill with other pitchers. The recent good form of Nelson has done enough to earn him a spot, but the shift only underlines the challenges that are hitting the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The decision to demote Montgomery raises questions about his future with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Brought in to be a key player, his performance has not turned out quite as expected at the time of signing. There is also uncertainty over whether he will be put on the postseason roster if the Arizona Diamondbacks make it. His role and contribution in the coming weeks are going to be keenly watched.
The bigger picture includes that the rotation for Arizona also includes Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Brandon Pfaadt, and now Nelson. As Eduardo Rodriguez comes back from injury, the team’s pitching staff is slowly getting back to full strength. The simple fact that Rodriguez is back is a clear plus, which brings needed depth to the rotation and gives additional options to Lovullo.
Lessons and Future Prospects
This has been a learning curve for Montgomery in many ways. Adjusting to a new role and entering a different league isn’t easy, and this year’s challenges could turn out to be the most valuable lessons in his career. If he can adjust to his new bullpen role, there still may be opportunities for him to contribute effectively.
Jordan Montgomery’s year with the Arizona Diamondbacks has not been exactly as planned, culminating in the latest development of his demotion from their starting rotation. His performance has underwhelmed expectations, but the Arizona Diamondbacks are still focused on postseason goals. Going into the rest of this season, it will be integral to see how well Montgomery can adjust to this new role and help the team succeed. For now, the team and the fans can only hope that adjustments will pave the way for a stronger finish and a potentially successful postseason run.
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