Frankie Montas spoke to the media today during his introductory press conference with the New York Mets, sharing insights into his decision to sign with the team, his health, and his approach to pitching moving forward.
Montas began by reflecting on what appealed to him about joining the Mets. “Everything was smooth when the Mets reached out,” he said. “I got to face them this year, and I saw a team that is hungry to win. They want to win the World Series, and when they contacted me, it made it clear that they are committed to doing what it takes to win.” Montas expressed his excitement about being part of a team with one of the toughest lineups in baseball, something he experienced firsthand during his time facing the Mets.
When asked about the Mets' plans to help him improve, Montas spoke about how his conversations with former teammates like Sean Manaea influenced his decision. “I spoke to several guys, including Sean, and they all had great things to say about the Mets’ resources to improve your game,” Montas explained. “I’m excited to see how they can help me take my game to the next level, especially with the way they prepare players and support recovery.”
Montas also addressed his adjustments after being traded to the Brewers last season. He acknowledged that the biggest change he made was trusting his arm. “It took me a couple of months to trust myself again,” he admitted. “The biggest adjustment was in my mental game—just telling myself that my arm was healthy and that I could throw without fear.” He continued, noting that this newfound confidence led to a noticeable increase in his velocity and a higher arm angle. Montas described feeling back to his old self, especially in terms of his recovery and ability to throw after a full workload.
Speaking about his relationship with Manaea, Montas expressed hope that his friend would join him in New York. “I hope that’s the case,” he said. “I know how hard he has worked to come back and be himself. He’s one of the guys I absolutely look up to, and I think he would be a huge asset to the Mets.”
Montas was also asked about the Mets' potential use of a five-man or six-man rotation. He made it clear that he prefers the traditional five-man rotation, as it allows him to pitch every five days. “I take pride in taking the ball every five days,” he explained. “I’m not really a fan of extra days off because it shortens the number of starts you can make. I like the way my arm feels with a five-day rotation, and that’s what I’m used to.”
Reflecting on his recovery and the Mets’ role in his decision, Montas pointed to their track record of keeping pitchers healthy. “The Mets have everything in place to keep you on the field,” he said. “I’ve seen it firsthand with the way they manage pitchers and ensure their success. They’ve got guys who can throw over 180 innings, and that speaks volumes about how they take care of their players.”
On the topic of his strikeouts last season, Montas emphasized that his increase in strikeouts was due to both his physical recovery and mental approach. “The velocity was good, but it all came down to trusting myself,” he noted. “I had to trust my fastball, my slider, and my splitter. When I stopped worrying about my arm and just let it eat, everything clicked.”
Montas also credited his work with Brewers pitching coach Chris Hook for helping him regain confidence in his mechanics. “He helped me adjust my arm angle and fine-tune my slider and splitter,” Montas shared. “He really helped me get back to trusting my stuff.”
In closing, Montas expressed his enthusiasm for the future with the Mets. “I’m excited to get started with this team,” he said. “They have all the resources I need, and I’m confident they will help me get back to my best.”
Here is the full press conference :
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