Montgomery's Ninth-Inning Heroics Highlight Growing Trust
Mason Montgomery pitched a scoreless ninth inning on Wednesday, securing the Pittsburgh Pirates' 4-3 comeback victory over the Detroit Tigers. The left-hander entered with the game tied and delivered a clean frame, allowing Brandon Lowe's walk-off homer in the bottom half to seal the win. It was the latest high-leverage appearance for Montgomery, who has become an increasingly indispensable piece of Pittsburgh's bullpen.
Manager Don Kelly has shown growing confidence in the 26-year-old, using him in a variety of roles—opener, middle relief, and now closer. Montgomery's four saves this season have all come in the past six weeks, including two in August. His emergence comes at a critical time for the Pirates, who are fighting for a playoff spot and have struggled with bullpen consistency all year.
A Trade That Keeps Paying Off
Montgomery arrived in Pittsburgh as part of a three-team offseason deal that brought Brandon Lowe from Tampa Bay. While Lowe was the headline acquisition, Montgomery was viewed more as a project—a lefty with a powerful arm but serious command issues. The Pirates' pitching development staff, renowned for maximizing talent, took on the challenge.
The results have been nothing short of remarkable. Montgomery's average fastball velocity sits at 98.7 mph (97th percentile), his whiff rate at 32.6% (93rd percentile), and his strikeout rate at an elite 38.8% (99th percentile). Since July 1, he has posted a 1.15 ERA over 15.2 innings, striking out more than half the batters he has faced.
“He’s really developed into a strong pitcher,” noted one analyst. “They’ve found something in him that could make him a high-leverage option for seasons to come.”
Beyond the Fastball: Mixed Pitches and Command
What has impressed Kelly most is not just Montgomery's raw heat, but his improved ability to mix in offspeed pitches. Earlier in his career, hitters could sit on his fastball, but now he keeps them off balance with a developing slider and changeup. This evolution has made him far less predictable and far more effective in big moments.
Montgomery's season stats—3.54 ERA and 1.14 WHIP—are solid, but his recent performance suggests he is hitting his stride. His ability to pitch in any role, from opener to closer, gives the Pirates flexibility that few bullpens enjoy. As the season winds down, Montgomery is proving he is not just a lottery ticket that hit; he's a cornerstone of Pittsburgh's future relief corps.
What This Means for the Pirates' Postseason Push
The Pirates are in the thick of the NL Wild Card race, and having a reliable high-leverage lefty is a major asset. Montgomery's emergence helps mitigate the bullpen's inconsistency, which has been a weak point all season. With Paul Skenes struggling lately (5.05 ERA over his last 16 starts), the bullpen's performance becomes even more critical.
For a team that has leaned on young pitching, Montgomery's development is a testament to their organizational strength. He may not be a household name yet, but in high-leverage October scenarios, he could be the difference between a short postseason run and a deep one.
Broader Implications: A New Bullpen Blueprint?
Montgomery's rise reflects a broader trend in MLB: the increasing value of power arms with elite strikeout rates in relief roles. As starting pitching becomes more fragile, teams are building bullpens with multiple high-velocity, high-whiff options. Montgomery's 38.8% strikeout rate places him among the league's best, making him a prototype for the modern reliever.
His success also highlights the importance of player development. The Pirates took a raw prospect and turned him into a weapon, much like they did with other pitchers in their system. This bodes well for their long-term sustainability, especially as they look to build a consistent contender around Skenes.
Montgomery's story is still being written, but it's already a compelling one. He went from a command-questioned lefty to a key piece of a playoff-bound team in less than a year. If he continues on this trajectory, he could become one of the most valuable relievers in baseball—and a symbol of Pittsburgh's resurgence.
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