Mets Promote Pitcher Rafael Montero To Las Vegas For Spot Start

From the desk of:   HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

NEW YORK METS - Promoting Rafael Montero For A Spot Start Is A Curious Move.


Mets standout pitching prospect Rafael Montero was promoted from Binghamton to Las Vegas this afternoon, in what is being described as a short visit.  Lynn Worthy, who covers Binghamton  University sports, and the Binghamton Mets for the Press And Sun-Bulletin newspaper tweeted,

@metsprospecthub @adamrubinespn #BMets manager Pedro Lopez confirmed Montero has left to join Triple-A Vegas. Verrett goes on Monday.
— Lynn Worthy (@PSBLynn) May 19, 2013

Montero's Las Vegas start looking like a spot start situation. #BMets expect to have him back in their rotation.
— Lynn Worthy (@PSBLynn) May 19, 2013

Adam Rubin confirmed Montero's move to Vegas.

Rafael Montero promoted to Las Vegas, for what that's worth.
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) May 19, 2013

For the moment, perhaps we should take this news at face value.  This is Rafael Montero's first season pitching at the AA level.  To his credit however, Montero has impressed.  There is no doubt he has fabulous command of the strike zone, demonstrating a high level of proficiency in Brooklyn, Savannah, St. Lucie, and again this season at Binghamton.  In eight starts so far, he has a 3.47 ERA in 46.2 innings pitched.  Rafael has allowed forty hits (7.7 H/9) and only walked six (1.2 W/9), for a 0.986 WHiP.  He has fifty-four strikeouts, good for a 10.4 K/9 average.  Prior to his arrival in Binghamton, Rafael Montero totalled thirty-seven appearances in his two previous seasons.


If AAA-Las Vegas suits him, by all means, let him stay there.  The Pacific Coast League could have different effects on different pitchers.  Zack Wheeler mentioned the difficulty he had keeping his fingers moist in the Rocky Mountain dry air, while Collin McHugh appeared to have no such troubles.  Ideally, I prefer that Rafael Montero not pitch in Flushing this season.  For me, it all goes back to polish.  This is a curious move to say the least, but Montero deserves this promotion, albeit a tentatively short one, based on his fine performance.




Mike.BTB