The Rays selected Montgomery's contract from Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Montgomery has taken off since moving to the bullpen full-time at Durham last month, turning in 9.2 scoreless innings with a 20:5 K:BB. The left-hander could eventually work his way into high-leverage situations but should work in middle relief initially. Montgomery will be making his major-league debut when/if he gets into a game.
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Rays' Mason Montgomery: Moved to bullpen at Triple-A
Rotowire
Montgomery has struck out six batters while allowing four hits and no walks over four scoreless innings across four appearances for Triple-A Durham since moving back to the bullpen Aug. 8.
Montgomery opened the season in Durham's rotation, but after going 0-7 as a starter, he shifted to a relief role and has notched two saves so far this season. Overall, Montgomery has covered 82 innings this season, logging a 6.70 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 91:31 K:BB. In spite of his struggles as a starter, Montgomery still ranks among Durham's leaders in generating swings and misses (13.8 SwStr%).
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Rays' Mason Montgomery: Missing bats at Double-A
Rotowire
Montgomery has a 3.99 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 66:19 K:BB in 47.1 innings over his last 10 starts for Double-A Montgomery.
The 23-year-old lefty has given up one home run in eight of those 10 starts and he has only gone five-plus innings in three of the 10, but Montgomery is excelling at striking batters out and limiting baserunners. He is not on the 40-man roster, so while he could climb to Triple-A this summer, a bump to the majors may have to wait until 2024.
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Rays' Mason Montgomery: Dominant in two Double-A starts
Rotowire
Montgomery has a 1.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 10 strikeouts in six innings through two starts with Double-A Montgomery.
The 22-year-old lefty was excellent in 11 starts at Double-A last year, sporting a 2.48 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 53 strikeouts in 54.1 innings. Montgomery is one of the most underrated pitching prospects in the minors, as he has a dominant fastball that plays above its low-90s velocity -- like a left-handed Joe Ryan -- in addition to a plus changeup. He should get a bump to Triple-A Durham sometime this season and could spend most of 2024 in the majors.
