Montero impresses out of pen

The Mets were encouraged by what they saw from their reclamation project Friday night.

No, not Zack Wheeler, who was torched over four shaky innings in his long-awaited return. The other one, once-promising prospect Rafael Montero, who was the lone bright spot in the ugly opener to a three-game series with the Marlins, a forgettable 7-2 loss at Citi Field.

After his shaky debut on Wednesday — Montero was tagged with the loss against the Braves, giving up two runs in 1 2/3 innings of work — he provided quality work in the middle innings of the rout. The young right-hander threw 2 2/3 frames of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit, striking out two and walking two. He saved the Mets’ bullpen for the rest of the series, inheriting a 7-1 deficit and keeping it there.

“Better command, certainly. No question about it. Command was much, much better,” manager Terry Collins said. “He made some better pitches with his off-speed stuff, used his change-up a couple of times today.”

So far, walks have remained Montero’s problem — he has issued five free passes in four innings — but he has seemed more confident in his abilities, not as scared to go after hitters, allowing just four hits and striking out three. He’s pounding the strike zone more, not trying to trick hitters as much.

“He’s not an overpowering guy, so if he makes pitches and gets them to the edges, and throws strikes, he’s going to get outs,” Collins said. “I thought he pitched much better tonight.”

Montero, now 26, made his major league debut with the Mets in 2014, missed almost all of 2015 with shoulder problems, and struggled in his brief time with the team a year ago, pitching to an astronomical 8.05 ERA in nine appearances, three of them starts. He walked 40 in 80 innings with Triple-A Las Vegas, but was given another shot this year.

He only made the opening day major league roster because of injuries to Steven Matz (flexor tendon strain) and Seth Lugo (slight UCL tear in right elbow), but he also proved he belonged thanks to a strong spring, posting a 1.77 ERA over 20 ¹/3 innings pitched. And Friday night, Montero showed Collins he could be a valuable part of the bullpen when the games count, too.