Diamondbacks’ Jordan Montgomery addresses ‘bad habits’ in backfields outing

SCOTTSDALE — There were bad habits Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Jordan Montgomery and pitching coach Brian Kaplan wanted to eliminate after his first spring outing, leading to a two-inning backfields appearance on Tuesday.

Optics aside, the decision made by coaches and agreed to by Montgomery allowed them to make quick adjustments away from the in-game setting after a tumultuous Cactus League debut.

Montgomery said he got a lot more out of the experience after what he felt was a disappointing appearance last Saturday (0.1 IP, 5 ER).

Jordan Montgomery got through two up-downs on the backfields, and he was optimistic about how it went.

“I just got a lot more out of that. I'm really excited about it. … Step in the right direction.”

His next outing will likely be in a spring training game. pic.twitter.com/q7BpJILjbu

— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) March 13, 2025

“(He) picked up some bad habits of like working across his body a little bit too much and was kind of running out of time,” Kaplan said. “So just the game itself is a faster-paced environment, so it’s kind of hard to feel when you get to that spot and then make the adjustment pitch to pitch.

“I think in a live he can actually slow the game down. There’s no pitch clock, there’s no runners on base. I can actually feel when something is off or he throws a bad pitch. So, in this situation, he was able to (say), ‘I felt it there,’ make the change, and I thought that was a big piece him starting to feel the changes he’s trying to make.”

Both Montgomery and Kaplan called Tuesday a step in the right direction as time runs thin on his spring build-up. Montgomery’s progression was delayed by a finger strain this spring.

His next appearance is expected to come in a spring training game, most likely on Wednesday against Colorado, according to manager Torey Lovullo.

The Diamondbacks begin the regular season on March 27, and they have not announced the five-man rotation.

“It’s like the hitters get in the box and you just try to jump to the plate,” Montgomery said. “Just got to be patient and let it happen and you gotta throw strikes doing that. So, just trying to break that bad habit.

“Control pitches, I can kind of be more free with my sinker and just throw it and get used to pitching to contact and just throwing in the zone,” he added. “Talk to Kap about if I’m doing what we’re working on in between pitches. I like them early just to get your feet wet. … I’m really excited about that went.”

Montgomery faced a hitting group of Geraldo Perdomo, Ildemaro Vargas, Ketel Marte and 2024 first-round pick Slade Caldwell. Getting live feedback from hitters was another added benefit of the outing.

He did not allow much hard contact, and his second inning appeared sharper than his first in terms of throwing strikes and making hitters look uncomfortable. Montgomery pointed to a 0-0 sinker he threw to Perdomo that drew a rolled over ground ball as a confidence boost.

“I thought from, obviously, where he was first outing, this was definitely a nice step, but he’s been working on it,” Kaplan said. “He’s starting to feel it being a little more in sync. Now, we can add a little more power and confidence in it.”

Montgomery reiterated that spring starts are what they are, harkening back to a March 2020 outing when he and Gerrit Cole allowed a combined eight home runs in a Grapefruit League game with the New York Yankees.

At the same time, the veteran has a lot to prove after a lousy 2024 season and his price tag of $22.5 million, in addition to the state of Arizona’s pitching surplus.

“He has pretty high expectations of himself as he should,” Kaplan said. “He wants to create a better narrative out here and contribute to a team he knows how talented it is. So I think he was more frustrated at what he was able to contribute based on the first outing. He wants to be more, I think he’s heading in that direction.”

Montgomery, Ryne Nelson and Brandon Pfaadt are in the mix for the final spot in the starting rotation. Lovullo has not been to enthusiastic about the idea six-man rotation, while the front four is pretty clear. In some order, Zac Gallen, Corbin Burnes, Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez will slot in.

“I haven’t had any of those conversations. It’s hard on me. I’m not gonna lie. It’s a very difficult decision,” Lovullo said on Wednesday. “When I sit down and talk to the group, I’m gonna tell them that it’s been agonizing for me. I don’t know what that answer is.”

Related

Diamondbacks LHP Blake Walston to undergo Tommy John surgeryDiamondbacks option Jorge Barrosa, Tommy Henry in next round of roster cutsMaking the case for Diamondbacks closer candidates as season nearsRyan Waldschmidt crushes 1st major league home run, and it went a long wayD-backs move top prospect, Nogales native Demetrio Crisantes to Triple-AIldemaro Vargas walks off Athletics in extra innings, Diamondbacks move into tie for wild card spot