In the next chapter of a once promising career falling from grace, the Mets have demoted RHP Rafael Montero to Double-A Binghamton, according to Betsy Helfand of the Las Vegas Review Journal.
Montero, 25, was 4-6 with a 7.20 ERA in 16 starts for the Las Vegas 51s. He also made two appearances in April with the major league club, allowing three runs in 2.1 innings. Montero’s best stretch in Las Vegas came in early May, when he allowed no runs in back-to-back starts while striking out 13 over 11.1 innings.
Montero now returns to Binghamton, where he was stellar over 11 starts in 2013, going 7-3 with a 2.43 ERA before being promoted to Triple-A on June 15. Over his final three starts with the B-Mets, Montero went 3-0 with 18 strikeouts in 20 scoreless innings.
According to Helfand, the Mets transferred the major league rehab assignment of RHP Jim Henderson to Las Vegas from Binghmaton. After hitting the disabled list with tendinitis in his right bicep on June 21, Henderson made five appearances in Double-A.
The Mets have also sent RHP Andrew Church from St. Lucie to Columbia, along with RHP Jimmy Duff. Church, the Mets’ second-round pick in 2013, had been producing his best results as a professional, with a 2.38 ERA in 8 starts between St. Lucie and Columbia. Duff, 22, pitched to a 7.31 ERA in 22 appearances this season. He had allowed eight runs in his last three games.
In addition, OF Tucker Tharp was sent down to Columbia. He hit .264 in 53 at-bats with St. Lucie.
For promotions, RHP Alex Palsha and OF Kevin Kaczmarski were sent to St. Lucie from Columbia. Kaczmarski, a 2015 draft pick who hit .355 in Kingsport last season, had 28 RBI and 7 triples for the Fireflies. He is likely taking the spot of Champ Stuart, who was promoted to Binghamton last week. Palsha, the 2015 Brooklyn Cyclones Sterling Award winner, had been 14-14 in save opportunities for Columbia.
Columbia C Natanael Ramos was placed on the disabled list after tearing his ACL. The 23-year-old had a .297 average in 12 games.
Hopefully he can recapture what made him a top prospect. At one point he was ahead of both deGrom and Matz in terms of prospect rankings. I remember that I was at Citi Field for first start against the Yankees and was so excited (and glad that I didn’t get stuck seeing this guy with long hair who was going to be reliever who was making his debut the next night). We could really use him right now. Hopefully he can figure things out in Binghamton
IMO the Montero demotion has as much to do with getting him out of Las Vegas and the PCL as it was about demoting him.
I think it’s certainly a combination of both but I agree with someone who is obviously in a serious funk that Vegas isn’t the best place to try and turn that around.
But the issue isn’t all the stuff this year either, he has been hitting 93-95 with his fastball and shown a good slider. He still just isn’t attacking hitters like he used to.
I like to stay away from saying it’s anything other than physical/mechanics but I think a huge issue with Montero is confidence. He was at his best when he would throw his changeup in any count and pound the strike zone. Now he is an even worse version of John Maine and nibbling.
If it’s confidence, then it’s probably good that they sent him down. No pitcher is going to build confidence in Vegas.
Wow! And very quietly, his career fades away. This makes me sad. I like the get him out Vegas narrative, but my gut is saying this is it for him with the mets. I hope he finds whatever is ailing him. **Disclaimer: my gut has predicted nothing nor do I have any analysis to back my statement **
Wow! And very quietly, his career fades away. This makes me sad. I like the get him out Vegas narrative, but my gut is saying this is it for him with the mets. I hope he finds whatever is ailing him. **Disclaimer: my gut has predicted nothing nor do I have any analysis to back my statement **
Montero sounds like a prospect swap candidate. Maybe the Mets could match up with another team who has a similar situation and make a trade. Sometimes it is a matter of a change in scenery.
And they are going to feel better after being demoted. Maybe a trade for Anthony Gose would work.
Montero has always reminded me of Dave Stewart……I hope he’s healthy enough to advance.
I’ve always wondered about the “Humiliation Tour” that Collins took last year…to kick Montero in the ass and bad splash him publicly.
Montero needs a Secondary Pitch…..Vegas is no place to throw one, much less build one. It’s a demotion, and it’s also a change of scenery. It’s a chance before giving up on him.
I read it very much the same. Get him out of rarified Vegas jet streams and let him regain form and confidence.
Again…Why does an northeast baseball club have it’s AAA team 2600 miles away in the desert of Vegas? (I know the answer, it just still doesn’t make any sense…)