Detroit Tigers top 30 prospects for 2024: #9 Keider Montero

As we continue working through the Detroit Tigers' top 30 prospects, we have reached the south side 10. Looking at the list, there's a ton of prospects who have helium within the organization. One of the Tigers prospects who has shown plenty of that is Keider Montero.

For that reason, Montero slots in at ninth overall on the Detroit Tigers countdown of the top 30 prospects for the 2024 season. Montero's a quality addition to the Tigers' 40-man roster, even if it may not feel that way. He's coming off a breakout 2023 season and was added to the 40-man this off-season in a vote of confidence from the team.

For Montero, it will be interesting to see what happens moving forward, but he had a big campaign in 2023, and this year is a chance to back that up. For that reason, he's knocking on the door of the big leagues, and it's why he finds himself inside our top 10 prospects.

This year's Spring Training will allow Montero to establish himself and create a quality performance. It'll be interesting to see what kind of role he can carve out, but there is an upside here with the right-handed pitcher.

Detroit Tigers prospect Keider Montero has electric stuff.

Frame & Delivery

Montero is a 6-foot-1, 220-pound frame with more of a compact build and plenty of thickness throughout. He's got some muscle mass in the lower half, with thicker and sturdy legs, which helps him move down the slope with some force. He's got a bigger leg lift that he coils into, creating some torque to the delivery.

In terms of arm action working down the slope, it can be more of a three-quarters to high-three-quarters delivery. Some videos from Spring Training make it seem as though he's working from an arm slot a touch higher than he has in the past. Maybe that's on me, reading too much into things, but it seems like that is the case.

Montero's got some whip through release, and his arm slot helps him create tough looks for hitters. He excels at working up in the zone, and part of that is due to his arm angle and delivery.

Arsenal

Montero has the fastball, which, as mentioned, works well in the zone. For me, this likely means he gets high-induced vertical break numbers and can pitch up in the zone with conducive results. The pitch has some carry to it, working arm-side with life to it. He's also been up to 97 mph on the pitch.

He pairs that with a slider that has a good tilt to it, and he manipulates the shape well. He can throw it a bit harder with a tighter shape and some tilt, almost cutter-ish, but still showing tilt and slider depth. He can also slow it down and get more of a slurvy shape to it with big depth and good/healthy shape.

Not to mention, he has a changeup with tons of arm-side fade to it, being able to round out the four-pitch mix nicely. He's got a feel for four, with a feel to pitch, and in 2023, things started to come together well for the right-handed pitcher.

Keider Montero's 2023 stats and outlook moving forward

In 2023, Montero moved through different levels of the organization, getting up to Triple-A with the Toledo Mud Hens. In his first crack at Triple-A, Montero made seven starts and had one relief appearance, pitching to a 4.93 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP with 14 walks and 47 strikeouts over 42.0 innings of work.

He also managed a good chunk of time in Double-A with the Erie SeaWolves, making 15 starts where he pitched to a 4.93 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP and managed 31 walks to 91 punchouts over 69.1 innings of work. While the stats may not be lights out, the stuff itself jumps off the page.

As the Tigers get ready for the 2024 season, it would be expected that Montero will start in Triple-A. He'll likely try to work out of the rotation for the Mud Hens but could end up moving to the bullpen if things get shaky. He's got the stuff to start as things stand, but he needs to see better numbers in 2024.

There's a chance for him to be an impactful international free agent signee, he just needs to continue improving his craft. The makeup is there; he just needs to keep piecing it together.