The Arizona Diamondbacks missed the postseason in 2024 coming off of their World Series loss to the Texas Rangers in 2023.
Their final record of 89-73 landed them in third place in the National League West and missing the wild-card spot by a tiebreaker.
As they prepare for the 2025 season, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo is encouraged that starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery will return to the team after reportedly exercising his player option.
“He feels like he has a lot to prove here with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he wants to go out and show us what he is most capable of doing,” Lovullo said, via MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM.
Montgomery pitched for the World Series champion Rangers in 2023 before becoming a free agent in the offseason.
He went unsigned throughout spring training until the Diamondbacks signed him one day after the regular season began.
Lovullo mentions it was a frustrating season for Montgomery, which he appears to attribute to the strange offseason and not knowing where he would play.
Montgomery started 21 games for the Diamondbacks, posting an 8-7 record with a 6.23 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 117.0 innings.
Lovullo believes that with a normal offseason and spring training, Montgomery will come back to form in 2025.
The Diamondbacks have one World Series title in franchise history, which came back in 2001 when they defeated the New York Yankees in seven games.
Arizona also will be seeking its first NL West title since 2011.