Spring training 2.0 is just a week old, so don’t etch this prediction in stone. But, try this on: A’s Opening Day starter Frankie Montas.
Montas busted into the Coliseum last week with a chip on his shoulder and a 100 mph fastball very readily in his arsenal despite the three-month hiatus. In Arizona, Montas found a cage to work with and an unassuming high school catcher to absorb his three-digit mph offerings as he mounted to some four-inning outings throughout his extended offseason.
“When I was in Arizona, I never stopped throwing,” he said.
The right-handed 27-year-old pitcher is practically game ready. Teammates he’s faced in live BP this summer can attest he’s already electric. But, more than anything, he’s hungry.
“Part of it stems from not being able to contribute for the second half last year,” manager Bob Melvin said. “It was his focus to find somewhere to (pitch), he was going to be ready coming into camp this year. He was ready in spring training and he was ready in spring training 2.0. He’s driven.”
One September start in Anaheim marks the only time Montas has been in a regular season game between now and June 21 of last season, when he was put on ice due to a PED suspension.
Montas’ hard work was displayed through videos he posted on social media during shelter-in-place of him lifting weights and hitting home runs, even.
He made sure to post videos of him hitting 99 mph and 100 mph in the cage. Melvin and the coaching staff saw it all. Pitchers are expected to reach 65-70 pitches by the start of exhibition games. Montas is already be there.
Montas come a long way from the end of the 2018 season, when it was unclear whether or not his ceiling (90-plus mph fastball, spicy secondary offerings) would become a reality. Back then, his career path was unclear.
But some successful experimentation with his splitter in the 2019 offseason brought Montas’ ability and confidence together at last. Before his suspension that season — with a 2.70 ERA in 15 starts — it looked like Montas could start the All-Star game.
Now, Montas doesn’t have to experiment much; it was his joy for finding what worked that helped him in the first place, and now he can settle in and mess more with timing. During the baseball shutdown, Montas experimented more with his slider — he has a loopier option and a shorter option.
“I’m the type of guy always trying to get better, learn something new,” he said. Even if the PED suspension is a knock against him, Montas’ lockdown work and All-Star caliber 2019 could be the perfect mix to target him for the opening day honor.
A.J. Puk’s big haircut and big return to the mound
The tall left-hander looked a little different when he hopped on Zoom, about 10 pounds lighter with one foot of hair completely buzzed off. Even some of his teammates didn’t recognize him.
“I told them I was from the (Jorge) Mateo trade,” he joked. “I had to get rid of it. It was too long.”
Even if it was too long for Puk, his manager would have liked the 25-year-old to keep his look. Not only did he have Hall of Famer Randy Johnson’s killer slider and 90-plus fastball, tall frame and left-handedness, but the long locks to match.
“I kind of liked the similarities, but if he’s comfortable with it, I’m all for it,” Melvin said. “He did have a unique look. It takes a little while to get used to it.”
A change seemed necessary, because Puk is a new man. He entered A’s camp this summer with a fresh view and no injuries nagging him.
This 60-game season is tailored perfectly for Puk. The off time allowed him space to clear himself of ailments. He spent all of 2019 recovering from Tommy John surgery he had in 2018, then this spring in Arizona struggled with shoulder ailments other TJ survivors told him he might experience. The short season artificially mandates an innings limit that A’s coaching staff would need to set in a 162-game season.
Now, Puk is expecting to unleash the curveball and changeup he couldn’t in his debut bullpen cameo last season — a restriction to help mitigate his TJ recovery. A 60-game season allows the A’s to slide Puk right into the five-man rotation with a possible 12 starts in his future. “And some playoff starts, too, hopefully,” he said.
Franklin Barreto locked in
Franklin Barreto hit two home runs early on in summer camp. Those two knocks came off Montas and closer Liam Hendriks.
“It’s two good pitchers he hit them off of,” Melvin said. “He’s looked the best so far at this point at the plate.”
Melvin has said that he expects second base to be platooned; Tony Kemp should get at bats against right-handers, and Barreto against left-handed pitchers with Vimael Machin (who has also impressed at the plate in camp) in the mix for at bats, too.
Barreto’s power is evident, anecdotally and through his exit velocity. Last season, he hit a Ross Detwiler curveball with a 107 mph EV for a home run. He pulled a Hansel Robles double 110 mph for a double.
“He needs to get consistent at bats because we know what he can do,” A’s assistant hitting coach Eric Martins said. “I can see him in the lineup because he’s as dangerous as anyone we got. He understands it’s his time, he has an opportunity.”
