Feb 12, 2025; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Frankie Montas (47) pitches during a Spring Training workout at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

How Mets’ Frankie Montas fared in first rehab start

Originally posted on New York Mets on SI
By John Sparaco | Last updated May 25, 2025 3:00 PM ET

One of the New York Mets' most significant offseason acquisitions took a big step toward his long-awaited debut.

Right-handed starter Frankie Montas, who signed a two-year, $34 million contract (including an opt-out) this winter, made his first rehab start for High-A Brooklyn on Saturday. He has spent the entire season on the injured list due to a high-grade right lat strain he suffered during his first bullpen session of spring training.

Montas, 32, was scheduled to throw between 30 and 35 pitches but wound up throwing 37 (20 strikes) over 1.1 innings against the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. He allowed two earned runs on two hits—including a triple—two walks, and one strikeout. His fastball sat around 93-94 mph, just a tick below his average velocity from 2024.

Frankie Montas tossed 1 1/3 innings and 37 pitches (20 strikes) in his first rehab start for High-A Brooklyn.

He allowed two runs on two hits (broken bat single & triple off the wall) to go along with two walks and a strikeout.

Fastball sat around 93-94 mph.#LGM @Metsmerized pic.twitter.com/ZqwNiX8NFz
— James Villani (@jvillani08) May 24, 2025

Last season, Montas used a five-pitch mix, led by his 94.8 mph sinker (+7 run value) and 86 mph splitter, which generated a 42.6% whiff rate. In 30 regular-season starts with the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers, he posted a 4.84 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 8.8 K/9 rate.

Frankie Montas, 2Ks in the 1st. pic.twitter.com/O2AcpPp7RG
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 2, 2024

His 150.2 innings last year were the second-highest total of his career, behind only his 187 innings in 2021 with the A's, when he finished sixth in AL Cy Young Award voting. Injuries have plagued Montas, who battled a shoulder ailment during his time with the New York Yankees before undergoing surgery that sidelined him for nearly the entire 2023 season.

Montas was one of four free agents signed to bolster the Mets' starting pitching depth this past offseason. Despite also missing Sean Manaea (oblique strain) and Paul Blackburn (knee inflammation) since the season began, their rotation entered Saturday with an NL-best 2.91 ERA.