Jordan Montgomery continues to build toward his Texas Rangers return after making his sixth rehab appearance.
Jordan Montgomery took another step toward returning to the Texas Rangers' rotation over the weekend, making his sixth rehab start as he continues working back from UCL surgery.
Pitching for Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, the veteran left-hander logged 2.2 innings and threw 53 pitches.
While the results were less than ideal, Montgomery's outing represented another important milestone as the Rangers evaluate whether he is ready to rejoin the major-league club.
The outing served as another checkpoint in Montgomery's recovery rather than a performance judged solely by the box score. As is often the case during rehab assignments, building arm strength and increasing workload remain more important than the final line.
Velocity trending in the right direction
One encouraging development has been the gradual return of Montgomery's velocity.
His four-seam fastball reached 90.3 mph during the outing and averaged just over 90 mph, a positive sign as he continues to regain strength following surgery.
For pitchers returning from significant elbow procedures, rebuilding stamina and command often takes precedence over immediate results.
Montgomery has steadily increased his workload throughout his rehab assignment, putting himself in a position to handle a larger pitch count as he nears the end of the process.
The Rangers are expected to evaluate not only how Montgomery performs on the mound but also how his arm responds in the days following each outing before determining his next step.
Decision on return approaching
With six rehab starts now complete, Montgomery has reached the point where a return to the major leagues is becoming a realistic possibility. Whether he makes another minor league start or is activated in the coming days remains uncertain, as the Rangers continue to assess his overall readiness.
The club's evaluation extends beyond innings and pitch counts. Montgomery's recovery between outings, the consistency of his pitch mix and the effectiveness of his arsenal will all factor into the decision.
Rotation could soon receive reinforcement
Texas has managed to navigate injuries within its starting rotation in recent weeks, but adding an experienced arm like Montgomery would provide another boost as the club moves deeper into the second half of the season.
While his latest rehab outing produced mixed results, Montgomery has continued to make measurable progress throughout his assignment.
If that trend continues and his recovery remains on track, the veteran left-hander could soon be back on a major league mound, giving the Rangers another experienced option as they push toward the postseason.
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