PEORIA, Ariz. — It’s a little early into his conversion as a reliever so Mike Montgomery hasn’t given much thought to his entrance music yet. There are more important things to figure out, like actually how to survive and flourish in a role that’s significantly different than what he’s done for his career.
With Charlie Furbush and his slow-healing shoulder looking less and less like a possibility for the opening-day roster, the Mariners have turned to Montgomery to transition from starting to relieving. He’s projected to join Vidal Nuno as the second left-hander in the bullpen.
Though he’s said often that he believes he’s a starting pitcher, it wasn’t hard to sell Montgomery on the move to the bullpen with Furbush ailing.