Mets reliever Rafael Montero will initially fill a long relief role, manager Terry Collins said Monday. Montero, who was up for a rotation spot this spring, will not pitch in high-leverage or late-inning situations at the outset of the season.
“Right now, I think we need to get his feet wet first,” Collins said, per ESPN. “So I think we’ll put him in somewhat of that longer role of where if you needed two innings, he certainly has the capability of doing it. They tried to do that a long time ago with some young pitchers throughout baseball. Once they get their feet wet and they start to get confidence, you can put them wherever you want and you can get outs.”