Rangers bringing back 2023 World Series hero despite major injury concerns

Texas Rangers reuniting with 2023 World Series hero Jordan Montgomery

The Texas Rangers and left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery have agreed to a one-year, $1.25 million deal that includes performance bonuses, according to The Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant. Due to undergoing hybrid elbow ligament reconstruction in a procedure last March, the lefty hasn't pitched since his poor 2024 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks in which he posted -1.4 bWAR and a 6.23 ERA in 117 innings. The Diamondbacks traded Montgomery to the Milwaukee Brewers at the 2025 Trade Deadline in a salary dump move. Montgomery never pitched for Milwaukee.

Every Rangers fan remembers Montgomery from his short time with Texas. The Rangers acquired the lefty from the St. Louis Cardinals at the 2023 Trade Deadline. He pitched to a 2.79 ERA in 67 2/3 innings across 11 regular-season starts with the Rangers and continued his success throughout the playoffs, playing a vital role in the Rangers' first World Series championship in franchise history. Although his lone World Series start wasn't great, as he allowed four earned runs on nine hits and one walk in six innings during Texas' 9-1 loss against the Diamondbacks in Game 2, he is one of the main reasons the Rangers made it to the Fall Classic.

During the 2023 playoff run, Montgomery started Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Tampa Bay Rays and hurled seven scoreless innings. He had a rough start in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Baltimore Orioles, allowing five runs (four earned) in four innings, but Texas still won the game 11-8.

Montgomery cemented himself as a postseason hero during the ALCS against the Houston Astros. He started and won Game 1 of the series by pitching 6 1/3 scoreless innings. He had a solid outing in Game 5 of the series as well, allowing just two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings, but Texas suffered a 5-4 loss. Then, in Game 7 of the series, he entered the game in the third inning and ended up pitching 2 1/3 scoreless innings as the Rangers won 11-4 to advance to the World Series. Overall, he sported a 2.90 ERA in 31 innings during the 2023 playoffs.

Jordan Montgomery injury return timeline with Rangers

Rangers medical director Dr. Keith Meister conducted Montgomery's procedure last March. Grant wrote that the 2023 World Series hero "could return to the mound around the All-Star break."

Once he signs with the Rangers, Montgomery will be placed on the 60-day IL. He'll still have to be placed on the active roster before being moved to the IL, meaning the Rangers have to make a corresponding move due to their 40-man roster being full.

The Rangers' starting pitching depth was already strong before the Montgomery signing. As of now, it appears the rotation will include Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, MacKenzie Gore and Jack Leiter. The final spot will go to either Jacob Latz or Kumar Rocker. Additionally, Cody Bradford is expected to return in May. Even with the strong depth, it's never a bad idea to add more pitching, especially with deGrom's and Eovaldi's injury histories. If the rotation is full and healthy once Montgomery is ready to return, the lefty can serve as a valuable bullpen arm.