Movin’ on Up: Montgomery Earns Promotion

David Holtzman reported tonight that minor league LHP Michael Montgomery is earning a promotion, moving from High-A Wilmington to AA Northwest Arkansas. Montgomery, 20, is regarded by most as the Royals top prospect entering 2010.

In four starts at Wilmington, Montgomery compiled a 2-0 record along with a 1.09 ERA in 24.2 IP. In those four starts, Montgomery has allowed only 18 baserunners, a WHIP of 0.73 along with a 33/4 K/BB ratio and a 1.71 GB/FB ratio as well.

This is all after his worst start of the year on Saturday when he gave up two runs in 6.2 IP. He still struck out six, surrendering no walks.

Montgomery has dominated at three levels so far in his professional career:

Year	Tm	Lev	W	L	ERA	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	WHIP	BB/9	SO/9	SO/BB
2008	Royals	Rk	2	1	1.69	42.2	31	8	12	34	1.008	2.5	7.2	2.83
2009	2 Teams	A-A+	6	4	2.21	110.0	80	27	36	98	1.055	2.9	8.0	2.72
2009	Burlington	A	2	3	2.17	58.0	42	14	24	52	1.138	3.7	8.1	2.17
2009	Wilmington	A+	4	1	2.25	52.0	38	13	12	46	0.962	2.1	8.0	3.83
2010	Wilmington	A+	2	0	1.09	24.2	14	3	4	33	0.730	1.5	12.0	8.25
3 Seasons	10	5	1.93	177.1	125	38	52	165	0.998	2.6	8.4	3.17
A+ (2 seasons)	6	1	1.88	76.2	52	16	16	79	0.887	1.9	9.3	4.94
A (1 season)	2	3	2.17	58.0	42	14	24	52	1.138	3.7	8.1	2.17
Rk (1 season)	2	1	1.69	42.2	31	8	12	34	1.008	2.5	7.2	2.83

Oh, and by the way, he’s only given up 3 homeruns in 177.1 IP.

Montgomery has a fastball in the 92mph range with potential to improve as he fills out, along with a developing curveball that’s unhittable when he locates it and a plus changeup.

He was drafted in the first round (supplemental) at #36 overall (thank you David Riske) in 2008 and joins last year’s first round pick, Aaron Crow in the Northwest Arkansas rotation.

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