Tigers prospect draws unenviable MLB debut matchup vs Pirates' phenom Paul Skenes

Per various sources, the Tigers are set to call up right-hander Keider Montero to make his major league debut in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates. His debut is a tall order, however, as he takes on rookie phenomenon Paul Skenes.

This will be the second time this season these two have faced each other, going back to April 12, when Toledo hosted Indianapolis in Triple-A action. The Mud Hens beat Indianapolis in 11 innings, and neither Skenes nor Montero pitched beyond the fourth inning nor gave up any runs.

Keider Montero is one of the Tigers' top pitching prospects

Montero, who ranks No. 7 on MLB Pipeline's Top 30 list and No. 6 on the Tigers Minor League Report list, has been with the organization since 2016, when he was signed as an international free agent. It wasn't until last season that he came into his own, leading the organization in strikeouts after moving up three levels.

When we spoke to Ryan Garko, the new assistant general manager and VP of player personal, Garko said Tigers pitching coach Chris Fetter spoke glowingly about Montero, saying he had some of the best stuff in the organization. The organization put his plan into Spanish and, according to Montero, it helped him prepare better.

For the Tigers as an organization, this is somewhat a big deal. Montero joins Wenceel Pérez and Jack O'Loughlin as the third player from the 2016 international draft signee to make their Major League debut.

As far as pitchers go, Detroit has not done well in developing starters among their international free agents. Since 2000 in fact, Detroit has had 19 homegrown international pitchers reach the majors in a Tigers uniform. Only four have been starters. Jair Jurrijens, Jose Lima, Victor Santos and Gregory Soto. If you want to go back a bit further, Felipe Lira, who comes from the same hometown of Santa Teresa del Tuy in Venezuela as Montero, was one of the first, in 1995.

Montero throws four pitches: a fastball, slider, curve, and changeup. He hasn't pitched more than five innings this season, so we shall see how short of a leash he will be on for the Tigers this afternoon.

Skenes has made three starts and carries a 2.25 ERA in MLB. He has 21 strikeouts in 16 innings pitched.