Jordan Montgomery is a starting pitcher for the New York Yankees who has been a reliable presence in the team’s rotation since his debut in 2017.
But how good is he really? In this blog post, we will examine Montgomery’s performance metrics, analyze his stats, identify his strengths and weaknesses, and consider his potential for improvement.
By the end of this post, we’ll have a better understanding of how good Jordan Montgomery truly is as a starting pitcher in the MLB.
Performance Metrics
When evaluating a pitcher’s performance, there are several different metrics that can be used to gain insight into their skills and effectiveness. Here are some of the most common metrics and what they measure:
Earned Run Average (Era)
This is the number of earned runs a pitcher allows per nine innings pitched. It’s a simple way to gauge a pitcher’s overall effectiveness, but it can be misleading because it doesn’t take into account factors like ballpark and defense.
Expected Earned Run Average (Xera)
This metric is similar to ERA, but it takes into account factors like quality of contact, strikeout and walk rates, and other metrics to estimate the number of earned runs a pitcher “should” have allowed based on their performance.
Strikeout Rate (K/9)
This measures the number of strikeouts a pitcher records per nine innings pitched. A high strikeout rate generally indicates a pitcher with good stuff and the ability to overpower hitters.
Walk Rate (Bb/9)
This measures the number of walks pitcher issues per nine innings pitched. A low walk rate indicates good control and the ability to limit free passes.
Ground Ball Rate (Gb%)
This measures the percentage of batted balls that are hit on the ground. Pitchers with high ground ball rates tend to allow fewer home runs and extra-base hits, as ground balls are less likely to leave the park than fly balls.
It’s important to note that no single metric can tell the whole story when it comes to evaluating a pitcher’s performance. A comprehensive evaluation that takes into account multiple metrics, as well as factors like age, experience, and context, is necessary to get a complete picture of a pitcher’s abilities.
Montgomery’s Stats
Jordan Montgomery has been a starting pitcher for the New York Yankees since his debut in 2017. Here are his career stats so far:.
ERA: 3.84.
Xero: 4.33.
Strikeout rate (K/9): 8.0.
Walk rate (BB/9): 2.8.
Ground ball rate (GB%): 43.7%.
Comparing Montgomery’s stats to league averages, his ERA and xERA are both slightly better than the MLB average for starting pitchers over the same time frame (4.32 ERA and 4.37 xERA).
His strikeout rate is slightly below average (8.6 K/9), while his walk rate is better than average (3.3 BB/9) and his ground ball rate is slightly below average (44.5%).
When comparing Montgomery’s stats to other starting pitchers in the Yankees’ rotation, he falls somewhere in the middle. His ERA is better than the team average (4.24), but his strikeout rate is lower than that of ace Gerrit Cole (12.0 K/9) and fellow left-hander Jameson Taillon (9.9 K/9).
His walk rate is better than all of his rotation mates, however.
Analyzing Montgomery’s performance over time, it’s worth noting that his ERA and xERA have been relatively consistent over his four-year career. In his rookie season, he posted a 3.88 ERA and a 4.07 xERA, while in 2020, he had a 5.11 ERA but a much better 3.87 xERA.
Last season, he posted a 3.48 ERA but a 4.00 xERA, indicating that he may have been a bit lucky to have such a low ERA. His strikeout and walk rates have also been relatively consistent, with a slight improvement in his walk rate over the past two seasons.
Overall, Montgomery’s stats suggest that he is a solid, but not elite, starting pitcher who has been consistent throughout his career.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Jordan Montgomery has a number of strengths as a starting pitcher that contributes to his overall effectiveness:.
Good Control
Montgomery has shown good control throughout his career, with a career walk rate of 2.8 BB/9, which is better than the MLB average for starting pitchers.
Inducing Ground Balls
Montgomery has a career ground ball rate of 43.7%, which is just below the MLB average. However, inducing ground balls is a strength that can help limit home runs and extra-base hits, particularly in hitter-friendly ballparks.
Durability
Montgomery has been a workhorse for the Yankees, logging over 400 innings in his career so far, and making at least 27 starts in each of his full seasons in the rotation.
However, there are also some areas where Montgomery may struggle:.
Low Strikeout Rate
Montgomery’s career strikeout rate of 8.0 K/9 is slightly below the MLB average for starting pitchers, which is 8.6 K/9. This can limit his ability to put away hitters and get out of jams.
Susceptibility to Home Runs
While inducing ground balls can limit home runs, Montgomery has been somewhat susceptible to the long ball in his career, with a career HR/9 rate of 1.2, which is slightly above the MLB average for starting pitchers.
Overall, Montgomery’s strengths and weaknesses contribute to his overall skill level as a solid, middle-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. While his good control and ability to induce ground balls help him limit damage, his low strikeout rate and susceptibility to home runs can be a liability.
However, his durability and consistency make him a reliable option for the Yankees in their rotation.
Potential for Improvement
While Jordan Montgomery has been a consistent performer throughout his career, there is still potential for him to improve and maximize his skills as a starting pitcher.
Here are some factors that could impact his development:.
Age
Montgomery is currently 28 years old, which means he is still in the prime of his career. As he gains more experience and becomes more comfortable with his pitches, he could continue to refine his repertoire and improve his overall effectiveness.
Work Ethic
Montgomery is known for his strong work ethic and dedication to his craft. By continuing to put in the time and effort to refine his mechanics and work on his weaknesses, he could make strides in improving his performance on the mound.
Experience
Montgomery has already logged over 400 innings in his career, which gives him a solid foundation to build upon. As he faces more hitters and gets more experience at the MLB level, he could continue to refine his approach and make adjustments to become a more effective pitcher.
There are also examples of other pitchers who have improved over time and could serve as a model for Montgomery. For example, Justin Verlander had a career-high ERA of 4.84 in his third season in the league but went on to win two Cy Young Awards and establish himself as one of the best pitchers of his generation.
Similarly, Max Scherzer struggled with inconsistency early in his career but developed into a dominant pitcher with three Cy Young Awards to his name.
To follow in the footsteps of these pitchers, Montgomery could focus on improving his strikeout rate by refining his pitch sequencing and improving his command.
He could also work on keeping the ball down in the strike zone to limit home runs and generate more ground balls. With continued development, Montgomery has the potential to become a more effective and dominant pitcher for the Yankees.
Jordan Montgomery’s career stats to the MLB average for starting pitchers and the average for left-handed starting pitchers:
| Metric | Jordan Montgomery | MLB Average | LHP Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERA | 3.84 | 4.32 | 4.28 |
| xERA | 4.33 | 4.37 | 4.38 |
| Strikeout Rate (K/9) | 8.0 | 8.6 | 8.3 |
| Walk Rate (BB/9) | 2.8 | 3.3 | 3.2 |
| Ground Ball Rate (GB%) | 43.7% | 44.5% | 44.7% |
The table compares Montgomery’s career ERA, xERA, strikeout rate, walk rate, and ground ball rate to the MLB average for starting pitchers and the average for left-handed starting pitchers. It shows that Montgomery’s ERA and xERA are slightly better than the MLB average, but his strikeout rate is slightly below average.
His walk rate is better than both averages, while his ground ball rate is slightly below average. Overall, the table provides a quick and easy-to-read comparison of Montgomery’s stats to league averages.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Montgomery compare to other left-handed starters in the league?
When compared to other left-handed starters in the MLB, Montgomery’s numbers are slightly above average in terms of ERA and xERA, and slightly below average in terms of strikeout rate.
Has Montgomery been particularly effective against certain types of batters?
Yes, Montgomery has been particularly effective against left-handed batters, holding them to a career batting average of .216 and an OPS of .659.
Does Montgomery have any injury concerns?
Montgomery had Tommy John surgery in 2018 and missed most of the 2018 and 2019 seasons. However, he has been healthy and durable since returning to the Yankees’ rotation in 2020.
How does Montgomery’s performance compare to other pitchers in the American League East?
Among pitchers who have made at least 20 starts in the AL East since 2017, Montgomery ranks third in ERA behind only Chris Sale and Gerrit Cole. However, his strikeout rate is below average among this group.
What is Montgomery’s pitch repertoire?
Montgomery primarily relies on a four-seam fastball, a cutter, and a curveball, with occasional usage of a changeup and a sinker.
To Recap
Jordan Montgomery is a solid starting pitcher for the New York Yankees who has consistently posted good numbers throughout his career.
While his low strikeout rate and susceptibility to home runs may limit his overall effectiveness, he makes up for it with good control, the ability to induce ground balls and durability.
With a strong work ethic and continued development, Montgomery has the potential to improve his performance and become an even more effective pitcher in the future.
While he may not be an ace like Gerrit Cole or have the same strikeout prowess as Jameson Taillon, Montgomery’s consistency and reliability make him a valuable asset for the Yankees in their rotation.
Overall, he is a good, but not elite, starting pitcher who has the potential to continue to improve and make an impact on the team.
