MONTY JITTERS

Jordan Montgomery isn’t used to missing one start, let alone six to eight weeks.

When his grandfather died in 2015, the hurler left the Charleston RiverDogs, drove home, attended the funeral in Clinton, S.C., and then flew right to West Virginia to face the Pirates’ Class-A affiliate.

Montgomery started the very day he returned. Last year when a line drive struck the lefthander’s head, a “freak accident” during batting practice, Montgomery started the following night. But now the 25-year-old, who exited Tuesday’s game after one inning with a strained flexor tendon in his throwing arm, has to receive treatment, focus on using his legs more while pitching, and worst of all – he has to rest.

“It is disappointing because I was throwing the ball so well,” Montgomery told reporters Friday. “But I’m going to try to stay as mentally sharp as I can and get back (physically) and come back right where I left off.”