Jordan Montgomery is a left-handed pitcher for the New York Yankees. Although he is not a household name, the 28-year-old has been a consistent member of the Yankees’ rotation since his debut in 2017.
Montgomery’s effectiveness has been debated among fans and analysts alike, so the question remains: is he a good pitcher?.
Pitching Career and Statistics
Jordan Montgomery is a left-handed starting pitcher who currently plays for the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on December 27, 1992, in Sumter, South Carolina, and made his MLB debut on April 12, 2017.
Montgomery has become an important player for the Yankees, especially in recent years, due to his consistent performances on the mound.
Pitching Style and Statistics
Jordan Montgomery is a pitcher who has an excellent command of his pitches, especially his fastball and changeup. Throughout his career, he has shown that he can throw strikes and keep hitters off-balance.
His walk rate of 5 percent last year ranked in the 89th percentile among pitchers in the league. In the 2020 season, he had a W-L record of 2-3, a 5.11 ERA, a 4.60 FIP, 47 innings pitched, and 47 strikeouts.
One of the key strengths of Montgomery’s pitching style is his ability to induce ground balls. He has a career ground ball rate of 45.2 percent, which means that he can limit the number of home runs allowed.
Compared to other pitchers in the league, Montgomery’s ground ball rate ranks in the 78th percentile. Another notable aspect of his pitching style is his ability to miss bats. His career strikeout rate is 22.0 percent, which means that he can get outs without relying too much on his defense.
Pitching Comparison
When comparing Montgomery’s pitching style and statistics with other pitchers in the league, several things stand out. For example, his fastball velocity of around 92 mph is about average for starting pitchers in the league.
However, he’s able to generate more swings and misses with his changeup than other pitchers in the league. In fact, his changeup whiff rate of 30.8 percent is one of the best among starting pitchers.
Another area where Montgomery excels in comparison to other pitchers in the league is his ability to limit hard contact.
He has a career hard-hit rate of just 31.2 percent, which ranks in the 82nd percentile. This means that when batters do make contact with his pitches, they are less likely to hit the ball hard and get good results.
In conclusion, Jordan Montgomery is an effective starting pitcher who brings a lot of value to the New York Yankees. His ability to throw strikes, induce ground balls, and generate swings and misses has made him a reliable option in the rotation.
While he may not have the same velocity or overpowering stuff of some pitchers in the league, Montgomery’s consistency and ability to keep hitters off-balance make him a valuable asset.
Strikeout Rate and Pitches
Montgomery’s Strikeout Rate
Jordan Montgomery has demonstrated a good strikeout rate throughout his professional career. In 2020 he recorded a strikeout rate of 24.1 percent, which was higher than both the league average and his career average.
Furthermore, his swing-and-miss percentage on his four-seam fastball was better than 93 percent of other pitchers.
This indicates that Montgomery has a solid ability to strike out batters and is capable of keeping batters off-balance with his pitch selection.
Montgomery’s Pitch Selection
Montgomery primarily relies on four pitches: a four-seam fastball, a curveball, a cutter, and a changeup.
Of these four pitches, his changeup and curveball were his most used pitches in 2020. This suggests a focus on keeping hitters off-balance and throwing off their timing with his changeup and curveball.
Additionally, Montgomery’s mix of speeds and horizontal and vertical movement on his pitches helps him get favorable results.
His curveball and changeup in particular had excellent vertical movement compared to other pitchers, and they complement each other nicely as they both have a vertical drop on their way to the plate.
Usage of His Different Pitches
Montgomery threw his four-seam fastball most often in 2020, with a usage rate of 51.7 percent. The pitch had an average velocity of 92.8 mph and generated a whiff rate of 13.0 percent.
His changeup was his second most prominent pitch, accounting for a usage rate of 24.2 percent. This pitch had a 12-6 vertical drop which makes it difficult to read and deceive the batters.
His curveball had a 1.3 inches vertical movement while his cutter had 2.7 inches cut and he relied on the curveball and cutter for his put-away pitches.
His cutter in particular was quite effective, generating a whiff rate of 23.2 percent. Lastly, his curveball had a whiff rate of 13.2 percent which is another testament to Montgomery’s command of his different pitches.
Jordan Montgomery has a well-rounded arsenal of pitches that he deploys intelligently to keep batters off-balance while also using his strikeout skills to get opposing batters out.
His pitch-selection strategy helped him to maintain a high strikeout rate in 2020, and it will be interesting to see how he continues to develop in the future.
Walk Rate and Control
In baseball, one of the most important factors for a pitcher is their control of the ball. It refers to the ability of the pitcher to throw the ball accurately to the intended location.
The walk rate is another crucial indicator of pitchers’ ability to control their pitches, which is an essential characteristic for every pitcher in the MLB (Major League Baseball).
Jordan Montgomery, a left-handed pitcher for the New York Yankees, is an excellent example of a pitcher with great control. His walk rate last year was only 5 percent, meaning out of every 100 batters he faced, he issued just five walks.
This rate places him among the top 15 percent of all pitchers. Compared to the league average, Montgomery’s walk rate is exceptional.
In 2018, the league average walk rate for starting pitchers was 8.5 percent, which puts Montgomery well below average.
Montgomery’s capability to control his pitches enables him to work in the strike zone effectively. His ability to locate his pitches where he wants them creates a sense of unpredictability, making him challenging to hit.
The excellent control of his pitches allows Montgomery to keep the ball in the zone, inducing ground balls or strikeouts, and minimizing the number of free bases for the opposing team.
Control is one of the critical components of a pitcher’s effectiveness because it is a prerequisite to approach other attributes that make a great pitcher.
For instance, a pitcher will struggle to generate swings and misses if they cannot throw strike one, limiting their ability to create out-of-zone swings. Similarly, as a pitcher’s walk rate increases, their pitch’s effectiveness declines.
If a batter is confident they will get a free pass, they’ll stop swinging, and pitchers with poor control give the other team a significant advantage.
Jordan Montgomery is a great example of what makes a good pitcher. The control of his pitches and low walk rate have boosted his effectiveness and has allowed him to keep his team in games.
Control is a crucial component of any pitcher, and Montgomery’s statistical achievements demonstrate the importance of having control of your pitches in Major League Baseball.
Performance Vs. Different Batting Orders
Montgomery’s Performance Against Left-handed and Right-handed Batters
Jordan Montgomery performed at a very high level in the 2020 MLB season and his performances against left-handed and right-handed batters were equally impressive.
The left-handed pitcher had a batting average against (BAA) of .180 against left-handed hitters and .214 against right-handed hitters.
It is clear that his performances against left-handed hitters are significantly better, but the difference between the two is not significant enough to suggest that Montgomery is weaker against right-handed hitters.
Analysis of Montgomery’s Different Performances
Jordan Montgomery had an impressive return to the MLB in 2020 after missing the majority of the 2018 and 2019 seasons due to an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery.
In his 10 starts during the 2020 season, he had a record of 2-3 with a 5.11 earned run average (ERA). However, his performances were much stronger than those numbers suggest.
Montgomery’s BAA of .213 was in the 91st percentile in the league, indicating that he was elite at preventing batters from getting on base.
Additionally, his 5 percent walk rate was in the 89th percentile, demonstrating his exceptional command of the mound. His strikeout rate of 20.1 percent was slightly above average, but not as strong as other pitchers in the league.
Comparison With Other Pitchers in the League
When comparing Montgomery’s performance against other pitchers in the league in 2020, he was among the strongest in terms of preventing batters from getting on base.
- His BAA of .213 was better than that of many other pitchers who received Cy Young Award votes, including Jacob deGrom and Trevor Bauer.
- However, his strikeout rate was weaker than that of deGrom and Bauer, who had strikeout rates of 31.3 percent and 36.0 percent, respectively.
- Montgomery’s performances against left-handed and right-handed batters were also not as strong as the performances of many other pitchers.
- Montgomery’s performances against left-handed and right-handed batters were equally impressive, with his BAA being in the 91st percentile in the league in 2020.
- Despite having a weaker strikeout rate compared to some of the Cy Young candidates, his command has been exceptional, evidenced by his walk rate being in the 89th percentile.
- Montgomery’s performances suggest that he still has plenty of room for improvement and could become a potent presence as a starting pitcher for the New York Yankees in the future.
Is Jordan Hicks a Starting Pitcher?
Jordan Hicks’ Background and Versatility Jordan Hicks is a 26-year-old right-handed pitcher who began his career as a starter and has now transitioned to the bullpen. He is known for his versatility and ability to pitch in multiple roles.
Hicks’ Early Career as a Starter Hicks began his major league career as a starter for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018. He posted a 3.59 ERA in 28 starts, but struggled with control, walking 45 batters in 123.2 innings.
Transition to the Bullpen In 2019, the Cardinals moved Hicks to the Bullpen, where he thrived. He posted a 3.14 ERA in 29 appearances and recorded 14 saves. However, he only pitched 28.2 innings due to injuries.
2020 Season and High Innings Count In 2020, Hicks only appeared in 14 games due to opting out of the season with concerns over COVID-19. He also struggled with control, walking 16 batters in 14.2 innings. Despite this, he tied his career high in innings pitched with 28.2.
Future Role for Hicks It is unclear what role Hicks will play in the future. He could continue as a dominant closer or return to the starting rotation, which could help the Cardinals with their lack of depth in that area. Regardless, his versatility and ability to pitch in multiple roles make him a valuable asset to the team.
Who is the Number 1 Pitcher?
The number one pitcher in the league is subject to debate, but Jacob deGrom is a top contender. He has won two Cy Young awards and is known for his dominant performances on the mound. Despite his success, deGrom has struggled with injuries that have limited his playing time.
He has not pitched more than 92 innings in a season since 2019. When healthy, deGrom is considered one of the best pitchers in the game. He has a fastball that consistently reaches 100 mph and a devastating slider.
His ability to command the strike zone and induce swings and misses is unmatched. Grom has helped lead the New York Mets to the playoffs and is a fan favorite. His dedication to his craft and work ethic are well respected among his peers.
It remains to be seen if deGrom will continue to hold the title of the league’s top pitcher with consistent injuries.
To Recap
While Jordan Montgomery may not have the flashiest numbers or overpowering stuff, his consistent performance over the past few seasons proves he is a valuable asset to the Yankees’ rotation.
Montgomery’s strike-throwing ability and propensity for inducing weak contact suggest that he is an above-average pitcher who can eat innings and keep his team in games. Is Jordan Montgomery a good pitcher? The evidence suggests that he certainly is.
