Tigers’ Montero Shines in First Big Moment After Trade
Hey everyone, let’s talk about a big moment for the Detroit Tigers and their bullpen. On Thursday night, the Tigers pulled off a tight 4-3 victory against the Minnesota Twins, and right in the middle of the action was Rafael Montero, who had just joined Detroit from the Atlanta Braves at the July 31 trade deadline. This wasn’t just any appearance—this was Montero’s first real chance to show he could be a key reliever for the team, and he delivered when it counted.
The game was hanging by a thread in the bottom of the 11th inning. The Tigers were clinging to a one-run lead, one out away from escaping with the win. Manager A.J. Hinch decided to trust Montero to finish the job, knowing the right-hander had experience in high-pressure situations. “I made the choice with Montero because he can miss some bats,” Hinch explained. And Montero didn’t disappoint.
Also Read:After facing a tense seven-pitch battle with Royce Lewis, Montero finally threw a slider, which Lewis checked his swing on, and just like that, the strikeout was confirmed. Ballgame. It was a huge confidence booster for Montero, who admitted afterward that the moment felt like a shot of trust in himself. Earlier in the season, he had struggled, posting a 5.52 ERA and a high walk rate, but Thursday’s performance showed why he still has the potential to be effective when he’s on his game.
Montero retired four batters in total and threw 14 of 16 pitches for strikes—an impressive rate for a pitcher who has historically struggled with control. “We’re working on keeping the fastball straight and getting rise, just to make it not a cutter like it was turning into,” Montero said. His four-pitch mix, including a fastball that averages 95.2 mph and a high-whiff splitter, makes him capable of getting ground balls and swings and misses when he’s in the zone.
Hinch hopes this performance can be the start of Montero settling in as a reliable option in the bullpen, especially with other relievers like Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan occasionally unavailable. Montero has shown before that he can handle big moments, having pitched in 15 postseason games, including the 2022 World Series. Thursday’s appearance didn’t erase his past struggles, but it did offer a glimpse of the arm that once helped the Houston Astros win a championship.
So, while one night doesn’t define a season, Montero’s performance was exactly what the Tigers needed—a reminder that with experience and trust, even a pitcher having a rough season can step up and make a difference when the game is on the line.
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