Frankie Montas

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Athletics #21 prospect in 2018
  When your fastball consistently hits triple digits on the radar gun, teams will keep you in their plans for a while. Such is the case with Montas. He made Oakland's 25-man roster as a reliever out of spring training in 2017, but struggled mightily with a 6.91 ERA in 21 appearances and was optioned to Triple-A Nashville. Montas got recalled by the A's in late July, and made two underwhelming appearances before returning to Triple-A for the rest of the season. Montas learned that at the big league level, hitters can get to 100-mph fastballs, especially if those fastballs lack major movement and aren't supplemented by at least one worthy secondary pitch. The A's like Montas' changeup, and want him to use it more. He has averaged more than a strikeout per inning in his pro career, but control can be a problem. He has pitched mainly as a starter in his minor league career, and made eight starts in his nine appearances with Nashville in 2017. Montas' future in the big leagues is in the bullpen, but only if he can develop some semblance of control or a secondary.
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  Ranked Athletics #5 prospect in 2017
  Originally signed by the Red Sox, Montas has been traded three times, twice since last December. He went from the White Sox to the Dodgers after the 2015 season as part of the three-team trade involving Todd Frazier and Trayce Thompson, then joined Oakland as part of the return for lefthander Rich Hill and outfielder Josh Reddick. A broken rib that followed offseason rib surgery curtailed Montas in 2016. Evaluators of any stripe come away impressed with Montas' easy velocity. He hit triple digits in the Arizona Fall League in 2016 and paired that with a power slider at 90 mph with good depth that projects as an above-average pitch. He uses his changeup sparingly, but evaluators believe it eventually could be an average pitch, and the A's are pushing him to throw it more. Montas is thick but surprisingly athletic for his size, and his mound presence and poise grade as plus. The A's will continue using Montas in the rotation, and 86 of his 106 pro appearances have been as a starter. His physicality, velocity and pitch mix could still succeed in the rotation if his control improves, but his career walk rate of 3.8 per nine innings and spotty fastball command could push him to a relief role as soon as 2017.
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  Ranked Chicago White Sox #3 prospect in 2016
  The White Sox acquired both Montas and starting right fielder Avisail Garcia when they sent Jake Peavy to the Red Sox as part of a three-team trade in July 2013. Montas endured two knee injuries that limited him to 15 starts in 2014, his first full year in the Chicago system, but he rebounded with a healthy campaign at Double-A Birmingham in 2015 that culminated with a September callup. He ranked fourth in the Southern League in ERA (2.97), WHIP (1.22) and strikeout rate (8.7 per nine innings). Montas pitches in the high 90s, touches 100 mph regularly and averaged nearly 97 in his seven-game big league debut. He doesn't lose velocity on his top-of-the-scale fastball even when he piles up high-pitch innings as a starter. Neither does he generate as many swings and misses as his velocity would suggest, owing to below-average command and inconsistent secondary stuff that allows hitters to sit dead red too often. Montas' slider plays up in short bursts out of the bullpen, where he can unleash the mid- to upper-80s pitch to catch opponents off stride or get them to chase when he's ahead in the count. His sloppy physique, poor body control and long, segmented arm action make repeating his delivery and throwing strikes a challenge, so most scouts envision him as a reliever. He rarely throws a changeup. Most successful clubs feature a power-armed Latin American reliever who worked as a starter in the minors--the 2015 championship series included Jeurys Familia (Mets), Kelvin Herrera (Royals), Roberto Osuna (Blue Jays) and Hector Rondon (Cubs)--and Montas could eventually fill that role for the White Sox. He could make the big league bullpen with a good spring, though he has no time at Triple-A Charlotte and might benefit from the experience.
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  Ranked Chicago White Sox #5 prospect in 2015
  The White Sox believe in their ability to develop pitchers, and Montas may be the latest example. He spent two years in the Dominican Summer League and had a 5.70 ERA in his first full season in the Red Sox system when the White Sox acquired him in the three-team Jake Peavy deal. Even with two knee injuries interrupting his 2014 season, Montas reached Double-A Birmingham and hit 100 mph in the Arizona Fall League. Montas shares physical similarities with Bartolo Colon and Livan Hernandez as a big-bodied Latin American righthander. He has a long arm stroke but easy velocity, regularly pitching at 96-100 mph. He tends to lose velocity over five or six innings, but he's got plenty to spare. He has the hand speed to spin a slider that at times flashes 70 potential on the 20-80 scouting scale. His changeup has its moments as well and can be an average pitch. The White Sox have simplified Montas' delivery, but his direction to the plate still wanders, as does his release point, leading to below-average control and poor command. Montas has closer written all over him, and his delivery and velocity remind some scouts of Rafael Soriano. The White Sox want to see if he can start, though, so he should return to Birmingham to begin 2015.
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  Ranked Chicago White Sox #29 prospect in 2014
  Montas was yet another former Red Sox prospect who came to the White Sox as part of the three-team Jake Peavy trade at the 2013 trade deadline. Boston signed him for $75,000 in 2009, then saw his fastball hit 100 mph. Montas has learned to dial back his fastball and pace himself as a starter, and he showed good durability by making 23 starts in 2013 between two stops. He struggled to minimize damage at times thanks to spotty command, which was worse after the trade, while sitting 91-95 mph and still touching 97 regularly. Montas throws both a slider and curveball, and he'll flash an average breaker with mid-80s velocity and bite, but neither pitch is consistent. He throws a changeup but lacks conviction in it and allowed a .276/.369/.529 line to lefthanded hitters. One club official compared Montas' wide-hipped body to that of Livan Hernandez, implying he will have to work hard to stay in shape. Montas' iffy secondary stuff could push him to the bullpen. For now, he remains a starter and likely moves up to high Class A Winston-Salem in 2014.
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  Ranked Boston Red Sox #22 prospect in 2013
  No one in the system can light up a radar gun like Montas. Signed for $75,000 in 2009, he hit 99-100 mph in the Dominican Summer League two years later. He regularly reached triple digits a few times a game in his 2012 U.S. debut, and did a better job of staying under control and not overthrowing. The angle and armside run on his fastball make it that much tougher to hit, and when he's on he can be untouchable. He blew away the Twins' Byron Buxton, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 draft, with three straight 97-100 mph heaters during instructional league. Montas still is far from a finished product, however. His fastball command needs significant improvement and his other pitches are works in progress. He'll flash impressive sliders but without much consistency, and he often throws his changeup too hard in the upper 80s. There's a good chance that Montas eventually will wind up in the bullpen, though he'll continue to get innings as a starter for now. If he throws enough strikes in spring training, he can earn an assignment to low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Arizona Fall League #14 prospect in 2016
  Montas was pretty much untouchable for most of the Fall season, posting an ERA of 0.53 in 17 innings and not giving up a run until his final regular outing, and then added three more scoreless frames in the league championship game. His stuff was electric, with a fastball sitting 96-100 mph and touching 102, and he compliments the heater with an above-average 89-90 mph slider that is small, quick and down. Questions about the quality of his changeup and his command as well has his long-running durability issues have some observers thinking Montas would thrive as a power reliever in the back end of the bullpen, but the Athletics will keep him in the rotation for now. He's gotten his big body into reasonably good shape and will be an interesting one to follow in spring training.
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  Ranked Southern League #17 prospect in 2015
  A pair of knee injuries truncated Montas' 2014 season, when he reached Birmingham for one start, but he returned to the SL this season and showed off the best fastball by a starter in the circuit. He enjoyed his most successful season in 2015, ranking fourth in the SL in a host of categories, including ERA (2.97), WHIP (1.22) and strikeout rate (8.7 per nine innings). Montas sits in the high 90s from pitch No. 1 to 100, according to one league manager, frequently hitting 100 mph. He lacks fine command at peak velocities, though, and his fastball can be turned around by advanced hitters accustomed to seeing 97 mph. Montas pairs his fastball with a mid- to high-80s slider that flashes plus in short spurts but deserts him at other times. Montas' lack of a reliable secondary pitch, when combined with his long, segmented arm action and sloppy physique led to frequent reliever mentions from evaluators. His stuff definitely would play in short bursts out of the bullpen, where repeating one's delivery is less vital to success, and he would have a ceiling as a closer.
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  Ranked Carolina League #14 prospect in 2014
  Montas threw the best fastball in the CL and dominated for 10 starts. A knee injury kept him out of the Futures Game and caused him to miss all of July, but he eventually made a start at Double-A Birmingham and was scheduled to pitch in the Arizona Fall League. Acquired from the Red Sox in the 2013 Jake Peavy trade, Montas pitches with power stuff, sitting at 94-96 mph and reaching back for higher. His slider breaks late and hard in the upper 80s, and he shows feel for his changeup. He's considered heavier than his listed weight and will have to monitor his conditioning to remain a starter. "He attacks the zone, throws strikes and competes on the mound," Winston-Salem manager Tommy Thompson said.
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  Ranked Florida Complex League #20 prospect in 2012
  Montas spent two seasons in the Dominican Summer League, where he compiled a 7.60 ERA and had all sorts of trouble trying to find the strike zone. He took a big step forward in his U.S. debut this summer, showing his trademark outstanding arm strength along with improved control. Montas' fastball touched 100 mph last year and did so again consistently in 2012, sitting at 94-98. He throws his fastball with good angle and late life, which makes it a nightmare for hitters to barrel up. The rest of Montas' game is still raw. He threw a slurvy curveball last year and now goes with a slider that's a workin progress, as is his firm changeup. He threw more strikes this year than he had in the past, but he's still learning to become more of a pitcher than a thrower. If he can't round out the rest of his arsenal, his fastball still should play well out of the bullpen.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Originally signed by the Red Sox, Montas has been traded three times, twice since last December. He went from the White Sox to the Dodgers after the 2015 season as part of the three-team trade involving Todd Frazier and Trayce Thompson, then joined Oakland as part of the return for lefthander Rich Hill and outfielder Josh Reddick. A broken rib that followed offseason rib surgery curtailed Montas in 2016. Scouting Report: Evaluators of any stripe come away impressed with Montas' easy velocity. He hit triple digits in the Arizona Fall League in 2016 and paired that with a power slider at 90 mph with good depth that projects as an above-average pitch. He uses his changeup sparingly, but evaluators believe it eventually could be an average pitch, and the A's are pushing him to throw it more. Montas is thick but surprisingly athletic for his size, and his mound presence and poise grade as plus.
  
  The Future: The A's will continue using Montas in the rotation, and 86 of his 106 pro appearances have been as a starter. His physicality, velocity and pitch mix could still succeed in the rotation if his control improves, but his career walk rate of 3.8 per nine innings and spotty fastball command could push him to a relief role as soon as 2017.
• August, 2016 Scouting Report
  Montas was pretty much untouchable for most of the Fall season, posting an ERA of 0.53 in 17 innings and not giving up a run until his final regular outing, and then added three more scoreless frames in the league championship game. His stuff was electric, with a fastball sitting 96-100 mph and touching 102, and he compliments the heater with an above-average 89-90 mph slider that is small, quick and down. Questions about the quality of his changeup and his command as well has his long-running durability issues have some observers thinking Montas would thrive as a power reliever in the back end of the bullpen, but the Athletics will keep him in the rotation for now. He's gotten his big body into reasonably good shape and will be an interesting one to follow in spring training.