Monty bouncing back

TAMPA — Jordan Montgomery is making it easy. The Yankee lefty, who missed almost all of 2019, is making his case for a rotation spot. Monday night, not only did he throw two scoreless and hitless innings, striking out three, but Montgomery showed some heat on his fastball that the Yankees hadn’t seen in a while.

“That’s the first time I hit 94 in a while, and I was hitting it in sim games consistently,” said Montgomery with a smile “I feel good about my arm strength and mechanics. They’re only going to get cleaner, stronger.”

With the news Tuesday that Luis Severino will have Tommy John surgery and miss the 2020 season, Montgomery’s spot in the rotation seems sealed. The Yankees will not have James Paxton at least until May after back surgery in February and Domingo German is not expected back from his domestic violence suspension until June.

So Montgomery has an opportunity and at least one of his teammates thinks he will run with it.

“I saw him last year when I was taking live (batting practice). He’s got a big curveball. He can locate his fastball well and he’s got a good changeup. So I think that three pitches are gonna be effective,” Luke Voit said. “And it’s another lefty. There are a lot of lefties in our division. So that’s gonna play a big part of that. I’ve faced him, he’s good. and (Monday) night he kind of showed you.”

Before the news broke Tuesday, Aaron Boone put Montgomery at the top of the list of the pitchers he will turn to this season.

Montgomery had Tommy John surgery in 2018 and did not return until September 2019 for a few innings of work. He was a little wild in those outings, but after a healthy winter with a little more throwing than normal, Montgomery is starting to feel his command come back. He is putting it together with the added strength and the Yankees like what they see.