A's Reining in Montas, Who is Ready to go after Suspension

Frankie Montas, who was on an All-Star pace for the Athletics before last year's PED suspension, will be brought around slowly after a successful stint in winter ball.

Frankie Montas probably could have pitched three or even four innings Wednesday in his first start this spring.

Instead, manager Bob Melvin gave him a one-and-done – one inning, three batters, 15 pitches, no baserunners, one strikeout – as the A’s went on to win their first game of the Cactus League Wednesday 16-3 over the Diamondbacks.

Montas pitched winter ball, so he came into the A’s camp ready to let fly after a 3-0 season with a 1.44 ERA for Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League. Because of that time spent on the mound, the A’s are easing him into action. He was the last member of the club’s rotation to start a game and even then, limited to just the one inning.

“He pitched some winter ball,” Melvin said, “so we’re going to take him along a little slow. Some guys will go two innings (in their first Cactus League starts). Just one for him.”

Montas probably wouldn’t have pitched winter ball if the season had gone the way he’d hoped. Through June 20, he was 9-2 with a 2.70 ERA and seemed headed for an All-Star Game berth. Instead, he was handed an 80-game suspension after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He did come back to pitch one game in late September, allowing one run in six innings against the Angels.

After missing essentially half a season, Montas felt that some innings in winter ball were necessary.

In talking with the media after his one inning, Montas said it was time to put the PED suspension in the rear-view mirror. He says he’s not feeling any need to prove himself heading into 2020.

“I don’t feel like I have anything to prove, to be honest with you,” Montas told the A’s media scrum. “I just want to have the ball every five days and go out there and compete and do my best.”

Melvin said the Sept. 25 start against the Angels was all the proof either Melvin or Montas needed.

“I think last year that he felt he needed to prove himself,” the manager said. “He was really eager in that one game to prove to us that he was still that guy, and that he had stayed ready. And he did. He came down here (to the A’s Mesa, Ariz., spring facilities) and worked out in the heat, which can be tough. I give him a lot of credit.

“I don’t think he comes in looking to do more.”

Montas said having success in the Sept. 25 start against the Angels in the middle of a pennant race was therapeutic.

“That was huge,” Montas said. “We needed that game. To put together a good performance and help the team win was big for me.”

Montas hit 96 mph on the radar gun Wednesday and only threw one splitter. That’s the pitch that allowed him to separate from the rest of the pack and dominate in the first half of 2019. That domination was in stark contrast to the 5-4, 3.88 debut in the rotation Montas had in 2018.

Melvin singled out the addition of the splitter for accelerating Montas, who turns 27 next month, into the upper echelon of Major League starting pitchers.

“It started with a little bit of a different repertoire,” Melvin said. “He had success (as a starter) after getting knocked around a little bit in a bullpen role. He basically was a fastball guy (in 2018). I think the splitter is huge for him. He’s always had the slider.

“But the split has kind of set him apart and brought his confidence up to level that kind of matches his talent.”