Diamondbacks P Jordan Montgomery needs Tommy John surgery, will miss 2025 season

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Jordan Montgomery will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entire 2025 MLB season.

Montgomery told reporters the news one day after he lost out on the team's final starting rotation spot to right-hander Brandon Pfaadt. The decision came after the team tried to move the 32-year-old left-hander all winter. He was set to assume a long relief role to begin the season.

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Montgomery is entering the final year of his contract that will pay him $22.5 million this season. He had a forgettable 2024 season where he went 8-7 in 25 appearances with a 6.23 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and an opponents' batting average of .312 in 117 innings pitched — a season that led to owner Ken Kendrick calling the signing a "horrible decision."

In trying to find a way into the 2025 starting rotation, Montgomery failed to make his case during spring training with a 15.00 ERA in three innings pitched and a 2.67 WHIP.

The Diamondbacks won 89 games last season and missed the playoffs by one victory. The finish to their 2024 season played a role in how manager Torey Lovullo set up his team to begin the 2025 campaign, which included Montgomery being put in the bullpen.

“Of course, of course,” Lovullo said. “Every play that we run, every little inch we're trying to win on the field, absolutely has a strategy to it, because we don't want to miss any chances to win one more baseball game.”

The Diamondbacks had been reportedly speaking to teams about Montgomery's availability as recently as this week. Even as the lefty struggled, Lovullo still had hope that the veteran pitcher would re-find his game again.

“I think you guys haven’t seen the best of Monty,” Lovullo said on Sunday. “That’s my gut feel. I’m watching every bullpen. I’m watching all the things that he’s doing. He’s working his butt off.”