| Jordan Montgomery | |
|---|---|
 Montgomery with the New York Yankees in 2017 | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1992-12-27)December 27, 1992 (age 32) Sumter, South Carolina, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 12, 2017, for the New York Yankees | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 46–41 |
| Earned run average | 4.03 |
| Strikeouts | 788 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Jordan Blackmon Montgomery (born December 27, 1992), nicknamed "Gumby" or "Monty", is an American professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theNew York Yankees,St. Louis Cardinals,Texas Rangers, andArizona Diamondbacks.
Before his professional career, Montgomery playedcollege baseball for theSouth Carolina Gamecocks. The Yankees selected him in the2014 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut in 2017. The Yankees traded Montgomery to the Cardinals in 2022, and the Cardinals traded him to theTexas Rangers, where he won his first championship in the2023 World Series.
Jordan Blackmon Montgomery was born on December 27, 1992, inSumter, South Carolina. He attendedSumter High School where he played for the school's baseball team, being named the state's player of the year as a senior. He also won a high school state championship in 2011 and was later named Pitcher of the Decade in South Carolina by Diamond Prospects.[1]
Montgomery attended theUniversity of South Carolina and playedcollege baseball for theSouth Carolina Gamecocks.[2] He was namedSoutheastern Conference Freshman of the Week on April 9, 2012 and a FreshmanAll-American.[3] He received the nickname "Gumby" in college from a teammate due to his long limbs and lack of coordination.[4][5]
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TheNew York Yankees selected Montgomery in the fourth round, with the 122nd overall selection, of the2014 Major League Baseball draft.[3] He signed with the Yankees, receiving a $424,000signing bonus. He pitched for theGulf Coast Yankees of theRookie-levelGulf Coast League and theStaten Island Yankees of theLow–ANew York–Penn League, pitching to a 1–1win–loss record with a 3.79earned run average (ERA) in 19innings pitched, as the Yankees limited his workload after the college season.[1] In 2015, he began the season with for theCharleston RiverDogs of theSingle–ASouth Atlantic League.[6][7] The Yankees promoted him to theTampa Yankees of theHigh–AFlorida State League in June.[8]
Montgomery began the 2016 season with theTrenton Thunder of theDouble–AEastern League[9] and was promoted to theScranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of theTriple–AInternational League in August.[10] He pitched in theTriple-A National Championship Game, earning the win.[11]
Montgomery received a non-roster invitation tospring training in 2017,[12] and competed for a job in theirOpening Daystarting rotation.[13]
After starting the season at Triple-A for theScranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees promoted Montgomery to the major leagues on April 12, 2017.[14][15] In his major league debut against the Tampa Bay Rays, Montgomery received a no-decision as he allowed three runs (two earned) in4+2⁄3 innings, striking out seven.[16] On April 17, in his second major league start, Montgomery earned his first major league win against theChicago White Sox.[17] On June 9 against theBaltimore Orioles, Montgomery pitched a career-high seven innings and struck out a career-high eight batters.[18] Montgomery tied those same career highs in a June 26 start against the White Sox.[19] Prior to the All-Star Break, Montgomery pitched to a 3.65 ERA, striking out 87 batters in91+1⁄3 innings.[20] On July 25, against theCincinnati Reds, Montgomery took a no-hitter into the sixth inning beforeScott Schebler hit a double to break up the bid.[21] On August 6, he was optioned to Triple-A.[22] He was recalled on August 11 afterCC Sabathia suffered a knee injury.[23] On August 12, Montgomery was struck in the head by an errant foul ball during batting practice while signing autographs prior to the game;[24] he was not seriously hurt.[25] In 29 starts in 2017, Montgomery finished with a 9–7 record and a 3.88 ERA.[26]
On May 1, 2018, Montgomery left a game against theHouston Astros after one inning due to elbow tightness. He went on thedisabled list the next day with a flexor strain and he would miss six to eight weeks.[27] However, on June 5, it was announced that Montgomery tore hisulnar collateral ligament while throwing on flat ground during rehab a few days prior and would undergoTommy John surgery, ending his season.[28] In six starts in 2018, Montgomery finished with a 2–0 record and a 3.62 ERA.[29]
Montgomery started the 2019 season on the 60-dayinjured list while still recovering from the previous season's surgery. He returned to the Yankees on September 15.[30] In 2020, Montgomery pitched to a 5.11 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched, while on defense he led all AL pitchers in errors, with three.[31] In 2021, Montgomery had a 6–7 record and 3.83 ERA in157+1⁄3 innings.[32][33]
The Yankees traded Montgomery to theSt. Louis Cardinals in exchange forHarrison Bader and aplayer to be named later or cash considerations on August 2, 2022.[34] He made his Cardinal debut on August 6, throwing five scoreless innings before being taken out due to cramping caused by dehydration, versus the Yankees in a 1–0 win for the Cardinals atBusch Stadium.[35] On August 22, 2022, Montgomery pitched his first complete game in the major leagues, a one-hit, 99-pitchMaddux against theChicago Cubs.[36] He finished the 2022 season with a 9–6 record and a 3.48 ERA in 32 games started.[37] Montgomery pitched in relief for the Cardinals in Game 2 of the2022 NL Wild Card Series as thePhiladelphia Philliesswept the Cardinals, two games to none.[38]
On January 13, 2023, Montgomery agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with the Cardinals, avoiding salary arbitration.[39] He had a 6–9 record and a 3.42 ERA in 21 starts for the Cardinals in 2023.[37]
On July 30, 2023, the Cardinals traded Montgomery andChris Stratton to theTexas Rangers in exchange forJohn King,Tekoah Roby, andThomas Saggese.[40] He woreuniform number 52 to honor former teammateCC Sabathia.[41] Montgomery started 11 games for the Rangers, pitching to a 2.79 ERA.[42] For the regular season, Montgomery set career-highs with 10 wins, a 3.20 ERA, 166 strikeouts, and188+2⁄3 innings pitched.[43]
The Rangers made the2023 MLB postseason and Montgomery started Game 1 of the2023 American League Wild Card Series.[44] Montgomery earned the win, pitching seven scoreless innings as Texas defeated theTampa Bay Rays, 4-0.[45] Montgomery also started Game Two of the2023 American League Division Series; he pitched four innings and did not receive a decision in the Rangers' 11-8 victory over theBaltimore Orioles.[46] In the2023 American League Championship Series, Montgomery appeared in three games and earned two victories as the Rangers defeated theHouston Astros, four games to three. He started Game One against Astros starterJustin Verlander and pitched 6 1/3 shutout innings, earning a 2-0 win.[47] Montgomery also started Game Five of the 2023 ALCS; he hurled 5 1/3 innings, gave up two earned runs, and did not receive a decision in the Rangers' 5-4 loss.[48] In Game Seven, Montgomery pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and earned the win in the Rangers' series-clinching 11-4 victory.[49]
The Rangers faced theArizona Diamondbacks in the 2023 World Series. Montgomery started Game Two and took the loss, giving up four earned runs in six innings; the Diamondbacks won the game, 9-1.[50] On November 1, the Rangers won the 2023 World Series, defeating the Diamondbacks four games to one. This was the first World Series championship of Montgomery's career and the first World Series victory in Rangers franchise history.[51] Montgomery had a 2.90 ERA in 31 innings in the postseason.[52]
On March 29, 2024, two days before Opening Day, Montgomery signed a one-year, $25 million contract with theArizona Diamondbacks that included a $20 million vesting player option for the 2025 season.[53] Without any spring training action, he was optioned to Triple–AReno Aces to begin the season. On April 11, Montgomery fired his agentScott Boras[54] and later stated that Boras "butchered" his free agency.[55]
Montgomery was recalled on April 19 and later made his Diamondback debut that same day against theSan Francisco Giants, allowed just one run over six innings.[56] On July 2, Montgomery was placed on the 15-day injured list with right knee inflammation. He was reinstated on July 23 and allowed one run over five innings against theKansas City Royals, earning the win.[57] However, following 19 starts where he accumulated a 6.44 ERA over 95 innings pitched, the Diamondbacks announced on August 23 that Montgomery would move to thebullpen.[58] Montgomery finished the 2024 season with a 6.23 ERA in 25 games (21 starts), and Diamondbacks principal ownerKen Kendrick later stated that signing Montgomery was "a horrible decision".[59]
On March 25, 2025, it was announced that Montgomery would undergoTommy John surgery and miss the entirety of the 2025 season.[60]
On July 31, 2025, the Diamondbacks traded Montgomery andShelby Miller to theMilwaukee Brewers in exchange for a player to be named later.[61]
Montgomery has two older brothers.[4] He met his wife, Mckenzie (née Dirr), in 2017 when they were introduced by a teammate of Montgomery's.[62] They married in December 2022.[63] She studied medicine at theMedical University of South Carolina.[64]
