Keider Montero keeps making his case for a spot in Tigers' 2025 rotation

Sometimes it's not just the best-known prospects who come to the league and impress. Sometimes it is the under-the-radar guys. Keider Montero is an example of that. This 24-year-old right-hander has come up and turned heads in the Motor City. There is still room for improvement, but he's still early in his MLB career. On Saturday, Montero proved his worth against the Yankees, spinning five shutout innings, giving up two hits, two walks, and striking out five. Montero held the Bronx Bombers' big three of Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton to no hits in six at-bats, striking out each of them once.

Montero was never a highly regarded prospect. For some that is a blessing in disguise. The pressure of being a top prospect can be a lot. Take a look at Jackson Holliday's first stint with the Baltimore Orioles. The kid is uber-talented but stunk in his first chance in the league. I believe that has to do with the pressure to have an instant impact on the team.

Montero has gone at least five innings in 10 of his first 12 starts. He had some struggles in a few starts, giving up four runs in four of his last six outings, but outside of that, he has been strong. Outside of Skubal and Olson, the starting rotation is questionable for next year. Kenta Maeda has been awful in his tenure with Detroit. Casey Mize has had drama galore over the past year or two with the team. Matt Manning could come into the fold, but the Tigers seem to want to stay away from him for some reason. Montero has a huge opportunity to capture a roster spot next season.

Keider Montero has established himself as a staple in the 2025 Detroit Tigers rotation.

Keider has an ERA of 5.28 with 49 strikeouts in 60 innings. There is room for improvement. Reese Olson comes to mind when you think of players who have developed at the big-league level over the past couple of seasons. He was another player who was not a top-regarded prospect but has established himself as a solid talent. Montero is on the same track.

Montero has a heck of a slider. With a tight spin and sharp break, it truly is a pitch that is tough to hit. He may not be a huge strikeout guy, but neither was Rick Porcello when he won the 2016 Cy Young with the Boston Red Sox. His fastball ranges from 92-95, with a slider at 82-84, a changeup at 84-86, and a curve under 80 mph. That is a lot of variety in movement and velocity, setting hitters up for a tough matchup against Keider. With a nice four-pitch mix and a shut-down slider, look for Mr. Montero to continue to make an impact on the team in 2025 and beyond.