TAMPA, Fla. – The New York Yankees may not have Frankie Montas for the 2023 season. The starting pitcher is going to have shoulder surgery next week and his recovery is likely to take months.
As pitchers and catchers showed up for spring training on Wednesday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone disclosed the news. According to him, the right-hander is expected to have surgery on his right shoulder on February 21. The manager was hopeful that Frankie Montas might be back for the second half of the season.
Frankie Montas, who is 29, was traded to the Yankees from Oakland on August 1. He made eight starts for the Yankees and went 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA. But Frankie Montas didn’t pitch after September 16 following an injury to his pitching shoulder. Montas left a start on July 3 at Seattle after 13 pitches because his shoulder hurt and his speed had dropped by about 3 mph. When he came back on July 21, his ERA in starts against Detroit and Houston was 2.25.
A few weeks ago, Yankees’ Brian Cashman had told that Frankie Montas’ shoulder injury didn’t show any structural damage. The starter, however, was behind the expected schedule in his recovery and the Yankees were sure to miss the first month of the regular season. But as the pitcher started his throwing program, the team discovered more information about his shoulder inflammation.
“He was building back up and just still wasn’t quite right,” Boone said. “Now we’ve gotten to the point where they’re going to go in. They’ll scope it and then we’ll have a better idea of timeframe.”
“Just a scope Montas could be back late in the year.”
ESPN’s Marly Rivera spoke to Frankie Montas, who acknowledged having a positive and encouraging MRI and said that he didn’t think the surgery would cause “any major problems.”
Losing Frankie Montas is a blow
The Yankees also face another dilemma with Nestor Cortes. The left-handed pitcher has a strained right hamstring that forced him to pull out of WBC. He may not be able to play on Opening Day.
Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, who is new to the team, and Luis Severino are likely to be in a rotation with Domingo German and Clarke Schmidt.
“Obviously, losing Frankie is clearly a blow,” Boone said. “But we also feel very confident in those that are going to now maybe get an opportunity because he’s not there initially.
“You always see surprises each and every year of guys kind of kicking the door and taking advantage of an opportunity,” he continued. “I’m excited about the talent we have in the room.”
Michael King, a reliever who had surgery to fix a broken right elbow, said he is 100 percent fit and can do everything at spring training.
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