ATLANTA -- The Rangers’ pair of rehabbing starting pitchers returned from the All-Star break to continue their respective buildups in their returns from UCL surgery.
On Saturday, Jordan Montgomery made a start with Triple-A Round Rock, while Cody Bradford returned to Double-A Frisco to continue his own rehab assignment.
Montgomery
How did he perform?
In his sixth rehab start, Montgomery threw 53 pitches over 2 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits -- including a home run -- while striking out two.
He touched 90.3 mph with his four-seam fastball and averaged 90.1 mph with the heater and his sinker.
What’s next?
It’s unclear if Montgomery will need another rehab start before joining the big league club. He’s stretched out long enough, but there are other factors to determine his activation.
“You're asking the wrong guy,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “I think that's just the truth. I think we’re trying to figure out how he feels, how he recovers and then what the need is here. That is a conversation I think we're all going to talk about eventually. We just haven't done it yet.”
What are they saying?
“I think it’s about the buildup, all of his pitches working how he wants them to work, all the shapes around what he feels like should be what it should be looking like, and then yeah, the velo is creeping back up, which is really good,” Schumaker said. “Can he sustain it through 75 pitches? And then it’s about how he recovers after all of that. Then I think the front office makes a decision on where we're at, and obviously I'm involved in it. We're all talking about it together.”
What else?
Veteran Cal Quantrill has stepped up in the rotation since Jack Leiter landed on the injured list following right ankle surgery. While Quantrill has performed admirably (4.29 ERA in five starts), he has left a void in the bullpen, where the Rangers could use his veteran presence when Montgomery returns.
Bradford
How did he perform?
Bradford, who experienced a slight setback in his rehab back in May, threw two scoreless innings in his second rehab start on Saturday. He struck out four while allowing one hit.
What’s next?
Bradford will continue a buildup similar to Montgomery, adding an inning with each rehab outing before his return to the big leagues well after the Trade Deadline. He last pitched in the Majors on Sept. 25, 2024, in Oakland.