Rafael Montero

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked New York Mets #8 prospect in 2015
  Montero signed as a 20-year-old Dominican amateur in 2011 and reached the big leagues little more than three years later. He made his Mets debut one day before Jake deGrom in mid-May 2014, and while the latter went on to win the National League Rookie of the Year award, Montero showed uncharacteristically poor control and command in New York. Thus he spent most of the second half at Triple-A Las Vegas. Montero lacks a consistent plus pitch, but he has produced results in the minors with strong control and a fearless approach. He likes to pitch backwards by unleashing 92-93 mph fastballs only after setting batters up with a solid-average, mid-80s changeup and fringe-average slider. That approach didn't work so well against big league batters who recognized spin earlier out of his hand. Montero locates his fastball and changeup to both sides of the plate, though his repertoire would benefit from more angle to the plate, a sharper breaking ball or better sequencing. He missed nearly a month at midseason with an oblique injury but otherwise has a perfect bill of health. Montero will provide major league value, most likely as a control-oriented No. 4 or 5 starter with three average to tick above pitches, though the Mets' crowded stable of power arms might ultimately force him to the bullpen.
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  Ranked New York Mets #3 prospect in 2014
  Few of the system's top prospects signed with less fanfare than Montero, who turned pro in 2011 as an undersized 20-year-old. Three years later, he's knocking on the door of the big leagues after mastering Double-A and Triple-A. He ranked among the top 30 qualified minor league starters in 2013 in terms of SO/BB ratio (4.29) and home run rate (0.35 per nine innings) despite pitching his home games at the hitter's haven that is Las Vegas in the second half--where he logged a 2.87 ERA a 1.11 WHIP in nine home starts. Montero's work ethic and mound presence stand out as much as his stuff. With long arms and loose limbs, he pounds the zone with fastballs, changeups and sliders delivered from a three-quarters arm slot. Montero sits in the low 90s, works the black on both sides of the plate and keeps enough in reserve to touch 95 mph in a pinch. A solid-average changeup fades away from the barrel of lefthanders. While his low-80s slider can be good at times, it would benefit from tighter rotation and greater depth. Montero's small frame puts off some evaluators, though his plus-plus command and poise are such assets that he defies convention. Montero expects to pitch in the big leagues, and he'll do just that in 2014. In time, he could profile as a good No. 3 starter.
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  Ranked New York Mets #5 prospect in 2013
  Since turning pro at an older age (20) than most Dominican signees, Montero has moved quickly. In his introduction to full-season ball in 2012, he mastered two Class A levels and ranked second in the minors in WHIP (0.94), fifth in K-BB ratio (5.8) and eighth in ERA (2.36). The Mets shut Montero down following his Aug. 7 start after he reached his innings limit. Montero has good stuff across the board and even better command, making him a starter prospect despite a small, thin frame. He pitches at 90-93 mph and rears back for 95 when he needs it, locating his running fastball wherever he wants thanks to a simple, repeatable delivery. Montero pitches backward at times because he trusts his slider and changeup. His breaking ball sweeps across the zone and features hard break at 82-84 mph. His mid-80s changeup has fade and usually grades as average. He shows dogged determination to improve the pitch, throwing it each time out. The Mets rave about his even demeanor. New York bypassed Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler to name Montero their minor league pitcher of the year in 2012, indicating the faith they have in his feel for pitching and capacity to improve. Scouts see his upside as a No. 3 starter or quality reliever. He'll reach Double-A at some point in 2013.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #14 prospect in 2014
  Montero has dominated minor league competition thanks to a fearless approach and above-average control. He lacks a plus pitch and can nibble and fall behind batters, which was his undoing during a lackluster big league debut. Despite a fastball with some sink at 92-93 mph, Montero often prefers to pitch backwards, using his low-80s slider to keep hitters in check before going with a solid-average to plus changeup to collect strikeouts. A scout from a rival organization and an opposing PCL manager both see a major league future for Montero, possibly as high as No. 3 in a rotation. "The command could be special," the scout said. "I'm not surprised that he struggled (in the majors) because he needs to tighten up the breaking ball. But when I saw him he just dotted the black at 92-94 (mph) . . . He's very athletic and the potential for command might make him even better (than projected)."
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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #18 prospect in 2013
  Montero signed as a 20-year-old in 2011 and rocketed to Triple-A in his second full season. Despite the high-octane offensive environment of Las Vegas and the PCL, Montero thrived, using a low-90s fastball that peaks at 95 mph with a sharp-breaking, hard slider to finish strong. He finished the season on a roll, posting a 1.40 ERA in six August starts spanning 39 innings. He?s been able to control the plate effectively while mainlining the late life on his fastball and the power on his low-80s slider. Montero?s changeup continues to need work, and lefthanded hitters (.732 OPS) handled him better in the PCL than righthanded ones (.616 OPS). Montero profiles more as a back-end starter and potential innings-eater than as a front-of-the-rotation presence.
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  Ranked Eastern League #13 prospect in 2013
  While his stuff is nowhere near the caliber of Binghamton teammate Noah Syndergaard?s, Montero does have something in common with his system-mate: Both are tremendous commanders of the strike zone. Montero puts his low-90s fastball just about wherever he wants and moves it in and out at will. He couples the fastball with a sweeping breaking ball and changeup that features plenty of late fade. Neither is a plus pitch, but both play up because of his top-grade control of his fastball. Montero repeats his delivery and transitioned well to the offensive Pacific Coast League and the hitter-friendly Las Vegas venue. At Triple-A in the second half, he surrendered just four longballs in 88 frames and worked to an ERA of 3.04 and a WHIP of 1.24. He?ll be given a chance to make the Mets? rotation out of spring training next season and profiles as a No. 3 or 4 starter.
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  Ranked Florida Complex League #20 prospect in 2011
  Montero moved quickly in his first pro season. After he dominated in four DSL starts, he moved to the GCL, where he was just as successful before ascending to Rookie-level Kingsport and short-season Brooklyn. Montero's best pitch is his fastball, which sits at 90-93 mph and touches 95 with late hop, making it tough for hitters to pick up. His fastball plays up because his command of the pitch was so advanced for Rookie ball. He'll need to improve his secondary pitches, a fringy changeup and a below-average breaking ball, though he throws them both for strikes

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #68 prospect in 2014

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Since turning pro at an older age (20) than most Dominican signees, Montero has moved quickly. In his introduction to full-season ball in 2012, he mastered two Class A levels and ranked second in the minors in WHIP (0.94), fifth in K-BB ratio (5.8) and eighth in ERA (2.36). The Mets shut Montero down following his Aug. 7 start after he reached his innings limit. Scouting Report: Montero has good stuff across the board and even better command, making him a starter prospect despite a small, thin frame. He pitches at 90-93 mph and rears back for 95 when he needs it, locating his running fastball wherever he wants thanks to a simple, repeatable delivery. Montero pitches backward at times because he trusts his slider and changeup. His breaking ball sweeps across the zone and features hard break at 82-84 mph. His mid-80s changeup has fade and usually grades as average. He shows dogged determination to improve the pitch, throwing it each time out. The Mets rave about his even demeanor. The Future: The Mets bypassed Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler to name Montero their minor league pitcher of the year in 2012, indicating the faith they have in his feel for pitching and capacity to improve. Scouts see his upside as a No. 3 starter or quality reliever.