Detroit Tigers rookie Keider Montero ready for rotation opportunity

MINNEAPOLIS — Detroit Tigers right-hander Keider Montero has pitched three games in his MLB career, but for the first time Wednesday, the rookie wasn’t sent to Triple-A Toledo after his outing.

The Tigers are giving Montero a spot in the starting rotation. It’s the first time Montero has had a chance to make multiple starts to prove he can stick around in the major leagues.

“It’s something very big,” Montero said in Spanish, through his interpreter Carlos Guillén. “It’s something I’ve worked so hard for so many years. I’m going to give 100 percent to deserve it.”

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Montero, who turns 24 on Saturday, took a step in the right direction in Wednesday’s 9-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. He allowed two runs on six hits and one walk (two hit by pitches) with four strikeouts in 6 1/2 innings, throwing 80 pitches.

“I felt great,” Montero said. “Everything I did was part of the process and, in the end, it’s going to pay off. The most important thing is that I was able to help this team get a win.”

He gave up a solo home run to Christian Vázquez in the third inning and an RBI single to Brooks Lee in the seventh inning, but other than those moments, Montero left runners on base. He had runners on base in six of his seven innings, but the Twins scored only two runs.

Montero remained calm in all situations.

He pitched like he belonged there.

“He seems to be in a pretty good place,” said catcher Carson Kelly, who hit a grand slam in the third inning. “It’s good to see that in a young guy. I think he’s going to continue to get better.”

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In three games, Montero has a 6.60 ERA with five walks and 15 strikeouts in 15 innings for the Tigers. His fastball averages 95.5 mph, but his curveball and slider are above-average secondary weapons with elite potential, both better than his changeup. He also has a 5.03 ERA with 30 walks and 54 strikeouts in 48⅓ innings over 13 games with Triple-A Toledo.

Montero allowed four runs in 4 1/2 innings on May 29 and five runs in 4 1/2 innings on June 26 before pitching 6 1/2 innings of two runs Wednesday against the Twins as an official member of the rotation. He attributed his success to better breaking balls.

“He seems to be settling in this time,” manager AJ Hinch said. “He knows his role. He knows he’s there and he’s going to make a few starts before anything else can happen. It’s nice to see him take a deep breath, and that comes after a few outings.”

The final match was marked by a ritual celebration in the visitors’ clubhouse with his teammates.

They were celebrating Montero’s first MLB win.

“It’s a very special feeling,” Montero said.

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All eyes will be on Montero for his next start when he faces the American League Central-leading Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park, especially after a strong performance against the Twins to set up a big opportunity.

“It’s going to be a completely different opponent,” Hinch said. “They’re going to load the lineup with lefties. He’s going to have a different game plan. The maturity of a starting pitcher, and why it’s so difficult, the maturity that’s required is the game plan is different literally five days apart, so maybe more breaking balls, maybe more changeups.”

Kerry Carpenter Returns to Detroit

Outfielder Kerry Carpenter (lumbar stress fracture) traveled with the Tigers to Minneapolis for Tuesday’s series opener against the Twins, but sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon he left the team.

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Carpenter returned to Detroit.

The 26-year-old will not complete the 10-game road trip with the Tigers because he suffered a setback — described as “increased discomfort” by the Tigers — in his recovery after a week of baseball activities, forcing him to be shut down.

“He’s handled it well,” Hinch said. “I think his frustration is the same as ours, he wants it to get better quicker, but it’s just a slow healing injury, and until he’s not in pain anymore we can’t move him to the next stage. He’s trying his best to respond, but when he’s still feeling symptoms we have to treat them.”

Javier Báez, a mud hen

Shortstop Javier Baez (lumbar spine inflammation) played in two games for Triple-A Toledo during his rehab stint. The 31-year-old went 1 for 2 with a walk as a designated hitter in Tuesday’s game and then 0 for 3 with two strikeouts as a shortstop in Wednesday’s game.

“I’ve been texting with Javy,” Hinch said. “He was happy with how he felt. I joked with him that he got a walk in his first at-bat, that’s a good start. It was nice to see him out there and hear him happy. It’s a good step in the right direction.”

Báez will not be in Thursday’s lineup with the Mud Hens.

It’s a day of rest planned for him.

After that, Báez will play shortstop for the Mud Hens on Friday. He is also expected to play on Saturday.

Báez could return to the Tigers for Monday’s series opener against the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park. Either way, he’s all but guaranteed to return before the All-Star break.

Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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