Former Gamecock Jordan Montgomery headed to World Series with Texas Rangers

Jordan Montgomery was counted out. The only team he had ever played for didn’t believe he could be a reliable starting pitcher in the postseason.

With that in mind, the New York Yankees traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals last July. It was a move that shocked Montgomery. But he used it as a chance to prove his former team wrong.

And one year later, he has done just that. The tables have completely turned. Montgomery, a pitcher for South Carolina baseball from 2012-14, is headed to the World Series with the Texas Rangers.

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When the lights were the brightest, Montgomery didn’t flinch. Instead, he pitched 2.1 shutout innings in a 11-4 win over the Houston Astros in Game 7 of the ALCS on Monday night.

It’s been an October to remember for Montgomery, who has been a workhorse for the Rangers. He pitched to a 1.29 ERA across 14 innings in the ALCS, giving up two runs and striking out 10.

Acquired by Texas on July 30, Montgomery went 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 11 starts during the regular season. But he’s turned up the heat in the playoffs. He’s 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in five appearances, striking out 17 and walking four.

Since the Yankees dealt Montgomery at the trade deadline last year, he’s 16-14 with a 3.05 ERA in his time with the Rangers and Cardinals. New York, meanwhile, lost 80 games and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016 this year.

Montgomery who turns 31 in December, is set to become a free agent at season’s end. It’s safe to say he will be in for a massive pay day with any team that wants to sign him.

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To South Carolina fans, it’s not a surprise to see Montgomery doing so well. He had a 2.84 ERA with 212 strikeouts to 57 walks in a Gamecock uniform.

But when it came to pitching on the biggest stages, Montgomery excelled at South Carolina. He most notably pitched eight shutout innings against Arkansas in the 2012 College World Series semifinals.

And now, the Rangers, led by Montgomery on the mound, are back in the Fall Classic for the first time since 2011. They’ll await the winner of the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Philadelphia Phillies who will play a Game 7 of their series Tuesday night.

If the Diamondbacks can pull it out, Montgomery will have the chance to face his old college teammate, Christian Walker. The former Gamecock slugger has hit .194 with a homer and six RBI in the playoffs.

Game 1 of the World Series will begin on Friday at 7 p.m. on Fox. The Rangers will have home-field advantage for the series.

It’s unclear when Montgomery will make his next start, but he’s sure to play a big role in the Rangers’ quest to win their first title in franchise history.

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