Frankie Montas Luna, born on March 21, 1993, in the Dominican Republic, has had a journey through Major League Baseball that's been anything but ordinary. Standing tall at six-foot-two, Montas first signed with the Boston Red Sox at just 16 years old. His path took a turn in 2013 when he was traded to the Chicago White Sox in a complex three-team deal.
MLB Career Beginnings: Montas made his MLB debut on September 2, 2015, with the White Sox, pitching a scoreless inning in a 3-0 loss to the Twins.
That September, he showed promise with a 2-0 record over seven appearances, despite giving up eight runs in 15 innings. By December, Montas found himself on the move again, this time to the Los Angeles Dodgers in another three-team trade.
He spent 2016 in the minors before being traded to the Oakland Athletics.
Time with the Athletics: Montas spent parts of six seasons with Oakland, generally posting winning records and compiling an overall 35-30 record with a 3.70 ERA.
His 2019 season was particularly impressive, boasting a 9-2 record and a 2.63 ERA in 16 appearances, with 103 strikeouts in 96 innings. However, his season was cut short by a suspension for violating MLB's drug prevention policies.
The A's finished second that year and lost the Wild Card game to Tampa Bay.
2020 and Beyond: In the 2020 postseason, Montas played a pivotal role in the A's ALWC series win over the White Sox but struggled in the ALDS against the Astros.
The following year, Montas had his best season yet, leading the A's pitching staff with career highs in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. He earned the AL Pitcher of the Month Award in September 2021.
By the 2022 trade deadline, Montas was on the move again, this time to New York, where he had a brief stint. Unfortunately, shoulder surgery sidelined him for most of 2023.
A New Chapter: In 2024, Montas started with Cincinnati, even earning the Opening Day start, and later moved to Milwaukee, where he posted a 3-3 record in 11 starts. During the NLWC Series against the Mets, he had a challenging Game 2 start but Milwaukee rallied for a comeback win.
Joining the Mets: In the off-season, the Mets signed Montas, but his start was rocky due to a lat strain that kept him out for four months.
He debuted on June 24, pitching five shutout innings against the Braves. However, inconsistency plagued him, with standout performances followed by tough outings.
His season took a downturn in August when a move to the bullpen was cut short by a ulnar collateral ligament injury, ending his season prematurely.
Montas’ career has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, showcasing his resilience and talent. Fans hope to see him bounce back stronger, ready to tackle whatever the next season brings.