Rafael Montero gets another shot as Las Vegas 51s starter

There was a time — two years ago, to be exact — when Rafael Montero was a more highly touted prospect than Jacob deGrom.

After solid spring showings in 2014, the pair made their debuts on back-to-back days in May. From there, their paths diverged sharply.

DeGrom stuck permanently, posting a 2.69 ERA while being named the National League Rookie of the Year. Montero struggled to adjust and spent the season between Las Vegas, the disabled list and New York.

The next year, DeGrom went 14-8 with a 2.54 ERA and was named to the NL All-Star team. Montero’s season was wiped out almost completely because of shoulder soreness.

Now, Montero, who is by all accounts healthy, will take the ball on Opening Day on Thursday when the 51s play the Fresno Grizzlies at Cashman Field.

Manager Wally Backman thinks Montero is back to where he once was.

“I think we’re going to see the Rafael Montero that we first (saw) when they sent Jacob deGrom to the big leagues and Rafael Montero to the big leagues,” Backman said. “They had just as much faith in Montero, just as much as they had in deGrom, and deGrom ended up being rookie of the year. We’re excited to get (Montero) back on the mound.”

Montero’s velocity jumped from 89 to 91 mph to 93 to 94 mph after his hands were brought back up, Backman said.

“They made his hands low, and we brought them back up here,” Backman said. “Sometimes those little adjustments like that can throw a pitcher off whack. I’m not going to say that it caused the injury, but he ended up being injured most of the year last year just trying to change some things. But I think that Rafael Montero that we all had big, high hopes for, I think he’s back.”

Montero said through teammate Dilson Herrera that he’s ready and is 100 percent healthy, though the source of the pain never was diagnosed.

“The more important thing is (I feel) ready now,” Montero said.

With his health squared away, Montero needs to focus on getting comfortable throwing his slider to add to his fastball and changeup, pitching coach Frank Viola said.

“His slider is a little inconsistent,” Viola said. “He’s got to be able to show a better slider … as a third pitch to get hitters off the other pitches, especially (the) second and third time through the lineup. He needs to get innings in, and that’s hopefully what he’s able to do.”

Montero didn’t pitch much in big league camp this spring, giving up five runs in two innings.

But Backman and Viola liked what they saw on the back fields, and now Montero will have the opportunity he lost last season to prove why he was a rising star in the Mets’ system.

“We worked on a couple things, and he’s earned the starting spot for the opening game this year,” Viola said. “He’s done a real nice job, and I think that during the course of the year this year, he will be helping the New York Mets.”

■ HERRERA AT DH — Backman said Herrera, a second baseman, would start the season as the team’s designated hitter as he deals with shoulder soreness. Backman said an MRI revealed no structural damage.

Backman said Herrera would go on a throwing program probably after the team’s first homestand.

“He’s healthy. He played with a sore shoulder last year,” Backman said. “He’s so young we’re going baby steps.”

Betsy Helfand can be reached at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @BetsyHelfand