The primary motive behind the Pittsburgh Pirates' trade with the Tampa Bay Rays over the offseason was to add another proven bat to their lineup.
The deal was already considered a success, given the impact Brandon Lowe has had on the lineup. However, he wasn't the only player to come to the Bucs in the three-team deal.
Pittsburgh also acquired pitcher Mason Montgomery from the Rays in the trade, a left-handed flamethrower reliever with serious command issues.
The potential for Montgomery to be an effective bullpen arm was there, but he was still considered more of a lottery ticket when he arrived in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates knew that Montgomery was a project player, and Pittsburgh's pitching development team has done a tremendous job helping the reliever get closer to reaching his ceiling as a big-leaguer.
Montgomery is really developing into a strong pitcher for the Pirates and is taking on even more responsibilities as the season continues.
Looking at Montgomery's season stats as a whole, the lefty owns a 3.54 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP.
What has really jumped off the charts this season has been Montgomery's average fastball velocity of 98.7 mph (97th percentile), whiff rate of 32.6 percent (93rd percentile), and strikeout rate of 38.8 percent (99th percentile).
The Pirates have used Montgomery in a variety of roles this season, including as an opener, in big moments in the middle of games, and in the ninth inning. He's succeeded in all of them
No matter what role it's been, the left-hander has been effective, especially over the last few weeks.
Since July 1, Montgomery owns a 1.15 ERA in 15.2 innings pitched, has struck out over half the hitters he's faced, and Pittsburgh has even started to use him more in high-leverage scenarios, too.
His four saves on the season, all coming in the past six-week stretch, are the second-most by a Pirate in 2026. Two of those saves have come in August.
What has impressed manager Don Kelly the most has been not just Montgomery's fastball, but the way he's mixed in his offspeed pitches to keep opposing hitters off balance.
The bullpen has been an inconsistent part of Pittsburgh's roster all season, and in many ways, still is. However, as the Pirates look toward the future, it really looks like they've found something in Montgomery that could make him a high-leverage option for seasons to come.