Young rookie heats up despite changing teams in mid season
Live Oak graduate Adam Montarbo has been close several times, but has never been able to throw that elusive complete game shutout.
That is not until last Thursday when he went the distance to give the Springfield Ozark Mountain Ducks the 1-0 win over the first half champions, the Jackson Senators.
He gave up six hits in that game played in the Central Baseball League – an independent league.
“I’ve been so close the last couple starts,” Montarbo said. “It was good to finally go all nine and get it done for the team and not have to worry about who is up in the bullpen and who is going to save my butt this time.”
For Montarbo, the drive has always been there after going deep into several games.
“I’ve always felt like I could,” Montarbo said. “It always seems kind of out of reach until you actually do it. I always knew I had the stamina to get there, but it always seemed like my luck was running out for me in the ninth inning. It’s good to pitch a good game, but it feels so much better to go the whole way”
The 6-foot-4 220-pounder started out the year playing for the Brisbee Douglas Copper Kings of the Arizona Mexico League before the league went bankrupt after its first season. Montarbo received one pay check before he and everyone else in the league were sent home.
“When that league folded, my agent really got on his horse,” Montarbo said. “He called every independent team in the nation. We had a couple offers, but this one was the best fit.”
Montarbo’s season with the Missouri-based team, which began July 2, wraps up this month, and he plans to return to Morgan Hill to look for housing when it ends.
Through Aug. 9, Montarbo was 3-3 with a 2.98 ERA in the the seven games for the Mountain Ducks. He has pitched 45.1 innings, averaging six plus innings each outing. During that time, he game up 44 hits, struck out 24 and walked 15. He has given up three home runs.
Montarbo is enjoying his stay in Missouri despite the more humid weather than the west coast.
“The stadium is unbelievable and is better than some of the minor league parks I played in,” Montarbo said. “The competition is really good. Compared to Arizona, there is no comparison. The team does a good job of taking care of its players.”
Montarbo’s dad, who left on Monday afternoon, was able to see his son pitch for the first time in a long time and saw him throw the shutout on Thursday. Although, Montarbo’s grandpa, who is also one of his biggest fans, was not able to make the trip.
Montarbo has always considered himself as a hitter first then a pitcher second. He had several opportunities to hit in Arizona, but it wasn’t until recently that he had the chance with the Ducks.
The game after his start, Montarbo was the designated hitter for his new team. Although he went 0-for-3, he was able to make some good contact.
“It was something I always knew I could do,” Montarbo said. “It was just whether or not I could do it on the professional level. When I was in Arizona, obviously I realized I could.”
Montarbo said his arm is feeling strong and pitching on a regular schedule has helped.
“All four of my pitches are working for me,” Montarbo said. “I am throwing hard and feel I have gotten a lot stronger. I am getting used to playing at the professional level and have a lot less butterflies now.”
Montarbo can throw both a two and four-seam fastball, but prefers the two-seam because of the movement he can get on it.
“My curve ball is finally back after I lost it throwing the slider,” Montarbo said. “My slider has probably turned into one of my best pitches. I don’t know where it came from. And my changeup has always been one of my best pitches. To top it off, my velocity has gone up.”
Montarbo has been surprised by the speed he can get on his fast ball.
“It is just my arm being in shape as I got used to starting,” Montarbo said. “I was relieving with the Padres for the last year and a half, so I wasn’t used to the conditioning it takes to throw ever fourth day and for nine innings. I find myself in the ninth inning ready to throw another five innings because my arm feels so great. It is great to be in such good shape like I was in college, having a regular schedule and not having to worry about being ready to throw every day in the bullpen.”
Montarbo, who was signed by the Padres in the 24th round, is hoping to get back into affiliated baseball in time for spring training.
“My numbers here are pretty good,” Montarbo said. “I’m very happy with the way I’ve performed. Whether or not it is good enough to get noticed, I don’t know because I really haven’t had to do that yet.”
