Foreign pitcher Mike Montgomery (34), who played for Samsung in 2021, was kicked out of Triple A and got an opportunity to extend his active career in the Mexican League.
American sports media ‘MLB Trade Rumors’ reported on the 7th (Korean time) that “Montgomery has signed a contract with Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League.”
Montgomery made his big league debut with the Seattle Mariners in 2015 and played for the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals, pitching in 183 major league games and recording 23 wins, 34 losses, 3 saves and 9 holds. He had an earned run average of 3.83.
Montgomery, who first stepped on Korean soil as a substitute for Ben Lively in 2021, was evaluated as having rich experience and stable control based on the excellent physique conditions of 196 cm tall and 99 kg in weight.
He contributed to the World Series victory of the Chicago Cubs in 2016 and raised expectations as Samsung’s ‘winner’.
His disappointment was greater than his expectations. Montgomery took the mound in 11 games and went 2-5. His earned run average reached 5.37. On September 10, against Daegu KT, he cursed at the referee and threw a rosin bag, and was suspended for 20 games and fined.
Montgomery’s sluggishness was very disappointing for Samsung, which went to the tiebreaker game for first place in the regular league with KT. The failure to renew the contract after the season was a natural step. 먹튀검증
The attitude of ignoring the league was the problem rather than simple lack of skills and failure to adapt.
As soon as Montgomery joined Samsung, he requested a briefing with catcher Kang Min-ho. At this spot, he declared, “No matter what top catcher comes along, I’ll throw whatever I want to throw, so I’ll do my bidding.” He explained his style, such as throwing only a high cutter when his outside sign came out, and never throwing a inside fastball to a right-handed hitter.
Because there was so much content, Montgomery’s interpreter even made a separate material for printing. On the day Montgomery came out, Kang Min-ho looked at the data in the dugout every inning and went in. However, only Kang Min-ho had a hard time because of the direction to the opposite side of the sign. It was a failure after insisting on his own style with a catcher who knows Korean baseball well.
Montgomery took the mound 22 times in Triple-A under the New York Mets last year, but showed a sluggish performance with 2-10 and an average ERA of 6.72.