Astros Pitching Coach Predicts Comeback Year For Struggling Reliever
With a loaded lineup, position groups full of strong defenders, and a deep rotation, the Houston Astros' bullpen will have a major spotlight on it all season long.
Not just because they handed Josh Hader a megadeal that makes him the highest-paid reliever in MLB history.
Not just because there could be internal turmoil after Ryan Pressly was moved out of his closer role.
But because they lost three prominent relievers to free agency and another to injury for the 2024 campaign.
General manager Dana Brown said that pitchers already inside the organization will have to step up and fill the void that those four players left behind.
Perhaps there is no greater pressure on anyone than Rafael Montero.
After signing a three-year, $34.5 million contract to rejoin the Astros after they won the World Series in 2022, the right-hander put up a horrific season last year.
In 68 appearances, he posted an ERA of 5.08, a far cry from the 2.37 ERA he had in 2022 across 71 games that earned him that lucrative deal.
He needs to be better for Houston this season.
Pitching coach Josh Miller thinks that will happen.
"Last year was an aberration. His stuff was good. He had some unfortunate bounces go against him early and had a patch where it was pretty rough," he said according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
Early indications during camp suggest that could be the case with Montero's stuff being called "dynamite"
Perhaps there is something to what Miller is suggesting.
During July and August he posted an ERA of 2.31 in both months. During September his ERA was 3.72.
In the playoffs, which is really all that matters for the Astros at this point, he finished with a 3.60 ERA, but had four outings where he only gave up one hit and didn't allow a single run over five innings pitched.
Houston is hoping he can build upon the closing stretch to his year.
"I feel like he is in a good spot. The arm is looking good right now," Miller said.
Whether that carries over into live action will be seen as Montero has yet to appear in a Spring Training game so far.
