Jordan Montgomery Impresses in Diamondbacks Debut Against Giants

Jordan Montgomery, the 31-year-old left-handed pitcher, made an impressive debut for the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night, pitching six innings against the San Francisco Giants. Montgomery allowed just one run on four hits while striking out three batters on 78 pitches.

The Diamondbacks signed Montgomery to a one-year, $25 million deal just days before the season started, after he was the last marquee free agent to ink a contract this offseason. Prior to his debut, Montgomery made two tune-up starts in Triple-A Reno, where he struggled, allowing nine runs in 7 2/3 innings. However, he looked much sharper in his first outing with the Diamondbacks.

Montgomery's signing was part of a busy offseason for the Diamondbacks, who also added notable free agents like Eduardo Rodriguez, Joc Pederson, and Randal Grichuk, while trading for Eugenio Suarez. The left-hander is expected to be a key contributor to Arizona's starting rotation after posting a 3.20 ERA across 188.2 innings between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers last story.

Why this matters: Montgomery's strong debut is a positive sign for the Diamondbacks, who made significant investments to bolster their roster this offseason. If he can continue to pitch effectively, it would provide a major boost to Arizona's chances of competing in the tough NL West division.

To make room for Montgomery on the active roster, the Diamondbacks placed right-hander Ryne Nelson on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow contusion. They also designated struggling infielder Jace Peterson for assignment and recalled first baseman/outfielder Pavin Smith from Triple-A Reno.

Montgomery's next start is scheduled for Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. The Diamondbacks will be hoping for another solid outing from their new acquisition as they look to build momentum early in the 2024 article.

Key Takeaways

• Jordan Montgomery, 31, made impressive debut for Diamondbacks, pitching 6 innings, 1 run.
• Diamondbacks signed Montgomery to 1-year, $25M deal before season after late free agency.
• Montgomery expected to be key contributor to Diamondbacks' rotation after 3.20 ERA in 2023.
• Diamondbacks made several notable offseason additions, including Eduardo Rodriguez and Joc Pederson.
• Montgomery's next start is scheduled for Wednesday against the Rockies as Diamondbacks seek momentum.