21 FRANKIE MONTAS, RHP

BA GRADE

40

Risk: Medium

Born: March 21, 1993. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 225. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2009. Signed by: Manny Nanita (Red Sox).

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.

Year

Club (League)

Class

W

L

ERA

G

GS

2015

Birmingham (SL)

AA

5

5

2.97

23

23

 

Chicago (AL)

MAJ

0

2

4.80

7

2

2016

Tulsa (TL)

AA

0

0

1.93

3

1

 

Oklahoma City (PCL)

AAA

0

0

2.38

4

3

2017

Oakland (AL)

MAJ

1

1

7.03

23

0

 

Nashville (PCL)

AAA

0

2

5.22

9

8

Major League Totals

1

3

6.32

30

2

Minor League Totals

16

27

3.89

108

92

Year

Club (League)

CG

SV

IP

H

HR

2015

Birmingham (SL)

1

0

112

89

3

 

Chicago (AL)

0

0

15

14

1

2016

Tulsa (TL)

0

0

5

2

1

 

Oklahoma City (PCL)

0

0

11

12

0

2017

Oakland (AL)

0

0

32

39

10

 

Nashville (PCL)

0

0

29

25

4

Major League Totals

0

0

47

53

11

Minor League Totals

3

0

428

368

24

Year

Club (League)

BB

SO

K/9

WHIP

AVG

2015

Birmingham (SL)

48

108

8.7

1.22

.219

 

Chicago (AL)

9

20

12.0

1.53

.246

2016

Tulsa (TL)

1

7

13.5

0.64

.133

 

Oklahoma City (PCL)

2

15

11.9

1.24

.279

2017

Oakland (AL)

20

36

10.1

1.84

.302

 

Nashville (PCL)

7

37

11.4

1.09

.223

Major League Totals

29

56

10.7

1.74

.285

Minor League Totals

173

449

9.4

1.26

.231