| Frankie Montas | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Montas with theOakland Athletics in 2019 | |
| New York Mets – No. 47 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1993-03-21)March 21, 1993 (age 32) Sainagua,San Cristóbal Province,Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 2, 2015, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 44–46 |
| Earned run average | 4.09 |
| Strikeouts | 760 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Francelis Montas Luna (born March 21, 1993) is a Dominican professionalbaseballpitcher for theNew York Mets ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theChicago White Sox,Oakland Athletics,New York Yankees,Cincinnati Reds, andMilwaukee Brewers.
Montas signed as an internationalfree agent with theBoston Red Sox in 2009, and was traded to the White Sox in 2013. He made his MLB debut in 2015, and was traded to theLos Angeles Dodgers after the season. After missing time due to injuries, the Dodgers traded Montas to the Athletics during the season. Montas established himself as a major league pitcher for Oakland in 2017, and was traded to the Yankees in 2022. Montas split the 2024 season with the Reds and the Brewers, and signed with the Mets for the 2025 season.
Montas signed as an amateurfree agent with theBoston Red Sox in 2009, receiving a $75,000signing bonus.[1] He played in the minor leagues for the Red Sox' organization for theGulf Coast Red Sox andLowell Spinners in 2012,[2] and for theGreenville Drive in 2013.[3]
Before the 2013 trade deadline, the Red Sox traded Montas and fellow minor leaguersJ. B. Wendelken and Cleuluis Rondon to theChicago White Sox in a three-team trade, whereJake Peavy went from the White Sox to the Red Sox,José Iglesias went from the Red Sox to theDetroit Tigers,Avisaíl García went from the Tigers to the White Sox, andBrayan Villarreal went from the Tigers to the Red Sox.[4] The White Sox assigned Montas to theKannapolis Intimidators, also in theSouth Atlantic League.[5]
Montas began the 2014 season with theWinston-Salem Dash of theClass A-AdvancedCarolina League. He was named to appear in the 2014All-Star Futures Game,[6] but suffered an injury to themeniscus in his knee which required surgery, and withdrew from the game.[7][8] After rehabilitating, Montas pitched for theBirmingham Barons of theClass AASouthern League.[9] He finished the 2014 season with a combined 5–0win–loss record and a 1.44earned run average.[10][11]
The White Sox assigned Montas to theArizona Fall League after the 2014 season.[1] On November 20, 2014, the White Sox added Montas to their40-man roster.[12] In his first major leaguespring training, Montas threw his fastball between 98 and 100 miles per hour (158 and 161 km/h).[13] He returned to Birmingham for the 2015 season, and threw a seven-inningno hitter on June 9.[14][15] He appeared in theSouthern League All-Star Game[16] and theAll-Star Futures Game.[17] The White Sox promoted Montas to the major leagues on July 17, 2015, to be their 26th man during that day'sdoubleheader.[18] He returned to Birmingham the next day without appearing in either game.[19] The White Sox promoted Montas again on September 1, and he made his major league debut as arelief pitcher the next day.[20]
On December 16, 2015, Montas, along withMicah Johnson andTrayce Thompson, were traded to theLos Angeles Dodgers as part of a three team trade that sentTodd Frazier to the White Sox andJosé Peraza,Brandon Dixon andScott Schebler to theCincinnati Reds.[21] On February 12, 2016, the Dodgers announced that Montas underwent rib resection surgery and would miss up to four months of the season.[22] He made his first appearance of 2016 with theTulsa Drillers of the Class AATexas League on May 22.[23] After a couple of rehab appearances for the Drillers, he was assigned to the AAAOklahoma City Dodgers. He aggravated his rib injury and further testing concluded he had a broken rib and he would miss a month or two of the season recovering.[24]
On August 1, 2016, the Dodgers traded Montas,Jharel Cotton, andGrant Holmes to theOakland Athletics in exchange forJosh Reddick andRich Hill.[25] After not getting a call to the majors in 2016, he appeared in 23 games for the A's in 2017, allowing 25 runs in 32 innings (7.03 ERA), while compiling a 1–1 record. For the 2018 season, Montas reverted to being a starter, beginning the season at the AAA level. He appeared in 13 games (11 starts) with the A's during the season, compiling a 5–4 record with a 3.88 ERA.
On June 21, 2019, after starting the season 9–2 with a 2.70 ERA in 15 games (all starts), Montas was suspended 80 games without pay for testing positive for a banned substance,ostarine,[26] in violation of MLB'sJoint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.[27] In 2020, Montas began the season as the A's Opening day starter. Through the season, Montas struggled with command as he recorded a win–loss record of 3-5 and an ERA of 5.60 in 11 starts.
On February 19, 2021, Montas was placed on theCOVID-19 related injury list after testing positive for the virus.[28] He finished the 2021 season with a 13–9 record, a 3.37 ERA and 207 strikeouts in 187 innings, finishing sixth in American LeagueCy Young Award voting.
On March 22, 2022, Montas signed a $5.025 million contract with the A's, avoiding salary arbitration.[29]
On August 1, 2022, the Athletics traded Montas andLou Trivino to theNew York Yankees forJP Sears,Ken Waldichuk,Luis Medina, andCooper Bowman.[30] He made his first start with the Yankees on August 7, allowing 6 runs in 3 innings.
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On January 14, 2023, it was announced that Montas would likely miss the first month of the season with right shoulder inflammation.[31] On February 15, it was announced that Montas would require arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder and would miss the majority of the 2023 season.[32] He was activated from the injured list on September 30.[33] He became a free agent following the season.
On January 2, 2024, Montas signed a one-year, $14 million contract with theCincinnati Reds that also included a $20 million mutual option for 2025.[34] Reds' managerDavid Bell announced that he would start for the Reds on Opening Day.[35] For the Reds, Montas had a 4-8 record with a 5.01 ERA across 19 games started.[36]
On July 30, 2024, the Reds traded Montas to theMilwaukee Brewers in exchange forJakob Junis,Joey Wiemer, and cash considerations.[37] In 11 starts for Milwaukee, he posted a 3–3 record and 4.55 ERA with 70 strikeouts across57+1⁄3 innings pitched. On November 4, Montas declined his option for 2025, becoming a free agent.[38]
On December 4, 2024, Montas signed a two-year, $34 million contract with theNew York Mets including an opt-out after the 2025 season.[39] On February 17, 2025, the Mets announced that Montas had suffered a high-grade lat strain and would be shut down for 6–8 weeks.[40]
Montas and his wife, Nicholette, have two children as of 2021[update].[41] He graduated from Dawere International High School in 2024.[42]
| Awards and achievements | ||
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| Preceded by | American League Pitcher of the Month September 2021 | Succeeded by |