Rafael Montero, Relief Pitcher, Houston Astros

Date of Birth: 10/17/1990
Birthplace: San Cristobal, Dominican Republic

Rafael Montero, relief pitcher for the Houston Astros, signed with the New York Mets in January, 2011. He pitched as a starting pitcher in their minor league system from 2011 through 2013.

Montero pitched in 8 games as a starting pitcher and 2 games as a reliever with the Mets in 2014. He had a 4.06 ERA in 44.1 innings. He also pitched 86.0 innings in 18 games in the minors. He spent most of the following season on the DL with rotator cuff inflammation. He pitched just 10.0 innings in 5 games with the Mets in 2015.

Montero spent most of the 2016 season in the minors. He pitched in 3 games as a starting pitcher and 6 games in relief with the Mets, finishing with an 8.05 ERA in 19.0 innings. He pitched in 25 games as a starter in the minors.

Montero pitched in 18 games as a starter and 16 games as a relief pitcher with the Mets in 2017. He finished the season with 5 wins and 11 losses, 114 strikeouts to 67 walks, and a 5.52 ERA in 119.0 innings.

Montero had Tommy John surgery on March 27, 2018, causing him to miss the entire 2018 season.

Montero became a free agent on November 2, 2018. He signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers on January 4, 2019. He pitched in 22 games in 2019, and he had 2 wins and no losses, 34 strikeouts to 5 walks, and a 2.48 ERA in 29.0 innings. He also pitched 18.1 innings in 11 games in the minors.

Montero spent time on the IL in 2020 with right elbow tendonitis. He finished the season with a 4.08 ERA in 17.2 innings in 17 games.

Montero was traded to the Seattle Mariners on December 15, 2020. He was traded on July 27, 2021, to the Houston Astros. He was on the IL in 2021 with right shoulder discomfort. He finished the season with 5 wins and 4 losses, 7 saves, 42 strikeouts to 17 walks, and a 6.39 ERA in 40 games with the Mariners and 4 games with the Astros. He didn't pitch in the postseason.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Rafael Montero
MiLB - Rafael Montero
ESPN - Rafael Montero