Frankie Montas was virtually unhittable on June 20 of last year, allowing the Tampa Bay Rays just four hits and one run over eight innings. He struck out nine, walked none.
The A’s right-hander was at the peak of his powers, flashing a four-pitch mix featuring a new and devastating splitfinger developed earlier in the year. It fell in line with an excellent start to the season, when he was starting to realize vast potential.
His next outing came against air. Montas pitched then and every turn in the rotation after came for months in exile while serving an 80-game unpaid suspension for a positive PED test.