Mets beat writer Anthony DiComo of MLB.com answered a bunch of questions in his Mailbag this week and included an update on Rafael Montero.
What is Rafael Montero‘s injury status?
This was a lost season for a pitcher who ranked higher than Jacob deGrom on the Mets’ depth chart as recently as 18 months ago. This year, Montero hit the disabled list in April with a right shoulder injury that was never well defined, and he wasn’t able to pitch competitively until instructional league games in autumn.
That said, the Mets still have hope for Montero, and they expect him to be ready by Spring Training. If all goes well, he could push Logan Verrett for the swing man role that Verrett filled capably in the second half.
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A very prolonged bout with tendinitis in his right shoulder really wiped out Montero’s season. Once considered a prized prospect and future fixture in the Mets rotation, he has seen Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz and Noah Syndergaard all blow right by him.
But if he’s healthy, and if his command remains his strong suit, Montero can emerge as a key reliever for the Mets – much as former starting pitcher Jeurys Familia did.
