Jordan Montgomery has chance to be something rare for Yankees
Like the albino alligator or the jeweled squid, you can find a pitcher drafted by the Yankees in the past quarter of century who has had success as a starter, but it is rare.
The Yankees unearthed Andy Pettitte — a gift — in the 22nd round in 1990 and the lefty became one of the greatest starters in the organization’s history. And then, well, let’s just say the species — Yankeeus Starterus — has not exactly been bountiful.
There has been something akin to the Curse of Brien Taylor. The Yankees took the fireballing lefty with the first overall pick in 1991, he seemed destined for greatness, blew out his shoulder in a fight back home in North Carolina and never reached the majors.
Since then Eric Milton and Ian Kennedy stand as the most successful starters drafted by the Yankees — but with little of that done for the actual Yankees, and with accomplishments that define No. 3 starter. Meanwhile, Phil Hughes never fully blossomed, Joba Chamberlain never ruled, Dellin Betances became a reliever, Andrew Brackman was a myth and Gerrit Cole never signed.
Now, here is Jordan Montgomery, trying to reverse the curse. The Yankees hope he is part of a cornerstone of young starters that come internationally like Luis Severino or in trade like Justus Sheffield and even from their own draft like Montgomery — fourth-round selection, 122nd pick, 2014.
The 24-year-old lefty made his second start Monday night and, like the first, showed enough that you want to see more and — as vital — earned the right to get that opportunity. Montgomery has contributed to two victories within what is now an eight-game Yankee winning streak.
On this occasion he opened with six shutout innings while the Yankees’ built an insurmountable lead that would bring a 7-4 triumph. Three of the White Sox runs came off the bat of Yolmer Sanchez, a homer to left that finished Montgomery’s effort in the seventh inning. He jogged off to a strong applause from a not very big crowd at the Stadium.
He deserved it and his first major league win.
“That [the first win] sounds good,” Montgomery said. “Hopefully, it will be the first of many.”
Montgomery struck out seven Rays in 4 ²/₃ innings of his major league debut and, for a follow up, Joe Girardi requested better precision and greater length. He got both. Montgomery threw strike one to the first 11 White Sox he faced and worked into the seventh.
But as important as anything is that Montgomery — as he did in going from not even in the spring competition for a rotation spot to the No. 5 job — continued to give off a sense he belongs. There is a polish and poise about him. He does not overwhelm with power, but rather with variety, arm angle and execution.
He struck out four Chicago batters, the finishing pitches being two sliders, one fastball and one changeup. He induced two Pettitte-esque double plays with his sinker as part of holding the White Sox to one hit in nine at-bats with men on base over the first six innings as the Yankees gained a 7-0 lead.
“It was nice to see him turn it up,” Austin Romine said. “He does not shy away [from tough moments].”
It will get rougher, of course. The league will get a book on Montgomery. I remember a Yankees draft pick, a lefty named
Jeff Johnson, who came up in 1991 and went 4-3 with a 2.70 ERA in his first nine starts. It was easy to believe the Yankees had discovered an asset. He finished that season 6-11 with a 5.95 ERA, had 10 starts sprinkled over the next two seasons and ended his major league and Yankee career 8-16 with a 6.52 ERA.
Also, on the Yankees internal depth chart, their No. 1 pitching prospect was James Kaprielian, the team’s first-round pick in 2015 who like Montgomery excited the Yanks in spring. He is scheduled for Tommy John surgery Tuesday.
Also, let’s face it, this version of the rebuilding White Sox in The Bronx is not exactly the Red Sox in Fenway.
So, yes, there are all kinds of hurdles in front of Montgomery if he is indeed going to really help reverse the curse. But you can’t take the third step or the 10th or the 90th without the first two.
“I made the best of my chance [in spring] and it turned into this,” Montgomery said.
Two down, who knows how many more to go. But in a rare occurrence, a Yankee draft choice has been spotted in the team’s rotation. Maybe the breed can come off the sport’s endangered species list.