The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired rookie Frankie Montas earlier this offseason in a three-team trade with the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox. Montas, one of the MLB up-and-coming players, is now out for 2-4 months after undergoing rib surgery.
Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times first reported the news last night and Ken Gurnick of MLB.com confirmed it shortly after. The Dodgers' official Twitter account retweeted Gurnick's report, thus announcing the news.
"According to the club, Montas had a stress reaction in his rib, and the procedure was performed by Dr. Greg Pearl in Dallas," Gurnick wrote.
"Montas, a 22-year-old right-hander, suffered a stress reaction and required a rib resection to remove his first right rib," Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times added. "Montas will begin physical therapy next week at Camelback Ranch."
Montas is ranked by MLB.com as the league's No. 95 overall prospect. He made his MLB debut in 2015 with the Chicago White Sox and posted a 4.80 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 20 strikeouts in seven games (two starts), totaling 15 innings.
He came to the Dodgers along with outfielder Trayce Thompson and second baseman Micah Johnson in that three-team deal earlier this offseason. It's unknown what role he was expected to play with the MLB club in 2016, but last month president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the right-hander could impact the bullpen at some point during the year. He was likely going to begin the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City due to the Dodgers' surplus of pitching.
Montas was signed as an international free agent back in 2010 by the Boston Red Sox, but was then traded to Chicago in the deal that sent Jake Peavy to Boston back in 2013. In 92 career minor league games (80 starts), Montas is 16-25 with a 3.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 390 strikeouts over 382-2/3 innings.
He'll now have to wait a few months before making his debut with the Dodgers.
