SURPRISE, Ariz. — Jordan Montgomery was beaming Friday, a stark contrast to the uncertainty that clouded his winter and spring a year ago. The left-handed pitcher, fresh off a disappointing and injury-plagued season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, officially rejoined the Texas Rangers on a one-year, $1.25 million deal with the potential to earn up to $3 million in incentives, a reunion he actively pursued.
Montgomery’s return to Arlington isn’t simply a heartwarming narrative of a player returning to a winning clubhouse, though he readily acknowledged the appeal of that storyline. It’s a calculated gamble for both sides, a chance for the Rangers to add a proven postseason performer at a minimal financial risk, and for Montgomery to resurrect a career that stalled after his pivotal role in the Rangers’ 2023 World Series victory.
“There’s a lot of reasons why I’m back,” Montgomery said, emphasizing the strong relationships he forged with teammates like Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, as well as the familiarity with catcher Kyle Higashioka and manager Skip Schumaker. “Obviously I love it here. Every arrow was pointing me to Texas. I just couldn’t be more excited to be back.”
The path back to Texas wasn’t straightforward. After his performance in the 2023 postseason – including a Game 1 win against the Tampa Bay Rays and a crucial Game 7 relief appearance in the ALCS – Montgomery went unsigned until late in the 2024 spring training, hoping for a long-term extension with the Rangers that never materialized. He ultimately signed with Arizona for two years and $50 million, a deal team owner Tom Kendrick later called “a horrible decision.”
Montgomery struggled throughout the 2024 season, posting a 6.23 ERA. He attributed some of the difficulties to rushing back from offseason recovery and potentially pitching through an undiagnosed elbow injury. Rangers medical director Dr. Keith Meister, a leading elbow surgery specialist, confirmed the severity of the issue upon examination. “I’m not out here making excuses,” Montgomery said, “but when Meister looked at [the condition of the elbow], well, he said it was, uh, pretty bad.” He underwent a second elbow ligament repair surgery last spring.
The Rangers’ familiarity with Montgomery’s medical history, coupled with Dr. Meister’s continued oversight of his rehabilitation, played a significant role in their willingness to bring him back. Montgomery himself reached out to Nathan Eovaldi, a fellow two-time Tommy John surgery recipient, for guidance during the early stages of his recovery. “We’ve been really close,” Montgomery said of Eovaldi. “He talked about how he felt on bad days. And we talked about it being a roller coaster sometimes when you are in the trenches with it.”
Beyond the physical recovery, Montgomery has as well focused on improving his conditioning. He reported to spring training on Thursday weighing 240 pounds, a loss of approximately 25 pounds from his 2023 playing weight, and has reduced his body fat by 10%.
While Montgomery acknowledged the deal isn’t a long-term commitment, he expressed confidence in his ability to contribute to the Rangers’ success later in the season, mirroring the timeline of his initial acquisition by the team during the 2023 trade deadline. For now, he’s focused on regaining his form and re-establishing the connections that made him a key part of the Rangers’ championship run. He ended his media session by proudly showing photos of his one-month-old son, James, a recent chapter in a story still very much in development.
