Montoya will miss season with injury to pitching arm
| Thursday, Jan 19 2012 11:11 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Jan 19 2012 11:11 PM
Images
CSUB pitcher Jonathan Montoya had a strong outing during Sunday's game against the Fresno State Bulldogs in Bakersfield.
CSU Bakersfield’s baseball team has lost senior left-handed starting pitcher Jonathan Montoya for the season because of an elbow injury, coach Bill Kernen announced.
Montoya is scheduled to undergo surgery on Monday to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. The anticipated rehabilitation time for the surgery is nearly a year.
“Losing a top quality left-handed pitcher like Montoya is a tough blow because it completes the loss of our entire starting rotation from last year,” Kernen said in a statement.
Montoya, from Chino Hills in Southern California, and Mike McCarthy, who was drafted last June and is now in the Boston Red Sox organization, shared the CSUB team lead last season with eight wins and 16 starts.
Montoya went 8-5 with a 3.67 ERA. He struck out 86 and allowed 104 hits in 1151⁄3 innings last season and is 16-16 in his three years at CSUB. Montoya led CSUB by picking off seven baserunners last season.
The only other starting pitchers with more than one start last season were Tommy Hoenshell, who is academically ineligible, and Martin Medina, who was drafted and signed a pro contract to end his collegiate career.
CSUB went 33-22 last season and barely missed out on a berth into the NCAA Tournament.
According to a CSUB spokesman, Montoya’s injury was caused by wear-and-tear from the rigors of being a college pitcher.
The injury was diagnosed after Montoya complained of elbow discomfort, prompting a doctor’s examination.
Montoya said he plans on resuming his collegiate career for the 2013 season, when CSUB will join the Western Athletic Conference as an affiliate member.
“I am looking forward to coming back stronger with the proper rehabilitation program,” Montoya said in a statement.
“I am looking forward to watching our team play this year as our guys gain a year of experience as we head to the WAC in 2013. I am excited for the opportunity to play with my teammates in the WAC.”
“We look forward to Montoya returning next year better than ever and completing his college career at CSUB fully recovered and healthy,” Kernen said.
CSUB opens its season Feb. 18 with a three-game home series vs. Kansas State.
