The Yankees got some encouraging news on one of their pitchers.
Frankie Montas won’t start throwing until at least late May following his shoulder surgery, which leaves the door open for the starting pitcher to return in the second half of the 2023 season.
Manager Aaron Boone said that Montas’ labrum was cleaned up during a procedure and the 29-year-old’s rotator cuff didn’t need to be repaired. Los Angeles Dodgers head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the procedure. Montas won’t throw for 12 weeks.
“Everything went according to plan,” Boone said. “We’re day one out of surgery, so we have a long way to go from there. We’re hopeful at some point he can get back but I don’t want to best case, worst case.”
The Yankees acquired Montas and Lou Trivino from the Oakland A’s in exchange for pitchers JP Sears, Ken Waldichuk, Luis Medina and second baseman Cooper Bowman on Aug. 1. Montas was acquired to bolster the starting rotation but went 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA in eight starts with the Yankees. The right-handed pitcher was later sidelined in September due to shoulder inflammation. He later made an appearance in the Game 2 loss of the ALCS against the Houston Astros, allowing a homer in 1 inning pitched.
Cortes making progress
Lefty Nestor Cortes has thrown off a mound twice since suffering a strained right hamstring. He is on track to appear in his first simulated game.
Minor league catcher Ben Rortvedt had surgery for an aneurysm of the posterior artery near his left shoulder on Wednesday. The former Twin had been experiencing what turned out to be a circulation problem with a finger and will be sidelined for a month.
“Then hopefully he’ll be able to start ramping up at that point,” Boone said. “Everything went well.”
