Keider Montero

Keider Eduardo Montero (born July 6, 2000) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.

Career Montero signed with the Detroit Tigers as an international free agent on August 25, 2016. He made his professional debut in 2017 with the Dominican Summer League Tigers, posting a 4.02 ERA across 14 games (12 starts). Montero returned to the team the following year, recording a 2.14 ERA with 40 strikeouts across 15 contests.

Montero split the 2019 campaign with the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Tigers and Low–A Connecticut Tigers, making 10 combined starts and compiling a 4–3 record and 2.08 ERA with 49 strikeouts across innings of work. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Montero returned in action in 2021 to play for the High–A West Michigan Whitecaps, registering a 4–8 record and 5.28 ERA with 59 strikeouts across 15 starts. He remained with the club in 2022, posting a 7–7 record and 4.51 ERA with 101 strikeouts across 27 games (26 starts). Montero started 2023 with West Michigan before being promoted to the Double–A Erie SeaWolves and Triple–A Toledo Mud Hens. In 27 games (26 starts) between the three affiliates, he accumulated a 15–4 record and 4.66 ERA with 160 strikeouts across innings pitched.

Detroit Tigers

2024 On November 14, 2023, the Tigers added Montero to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He was optioned to Triple–A Toledo to begin the 2024 season. On May 29, 2024, Montero was promoted to the major leagues to make his Major League debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second game of their doubleheader. He was the team's 27th man for the game and was sent down afterwards. He was called up again to start a game on June 26, but was sent down the next day when another pitcher was activated off the injured list. Montero was again called up on July 3, to start a game after starting pitcher Casey Mize had to be placed on the injured list. On September 10, he pitched a complete game shutout against the Colorado Rockies, while facing the minimum of 27 batters. He only allowed 3 hits, and all of them were forced out on double-plays. Montero made 19 appearances (16 starts) for Detroit during his rookie campaign, posting a 6–6 record and 4.76 ERA with 77 strikeouts across innings pitched.

2025 Montero was optioned to Triple-A Toledo to begin the 2025 season. He was recalled April 15 in order to start the next day against the Milwaukee Brewers. Montero appeared in 20 games (12 starts) for the 2025 Tigers, posting a 5–3 record with a 4.37 ERA and 72 strikeouts in innings. Montero earned a save in Game 1 of the 2025 American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, pitching a scoreless 11th inning.

2026 Montero was optioned to Triple-A Toledo to begin the 2026 season. He was recalled April 4 in order to start the next day after starting pitcher Justin Verlander had to be placed on the injured list.

Pitch selection Montero throws four-seam and sinking two-seam fastballs, both in the 93 to 96 MPH range, with the four-seam topping out at 98 MPH. His primary off-speed pitch is a slider in the 83 to 86 MPH range. He also throws an occasional knuckle curve at 78 to 81 MPH and a changeup at 85 to 88 MPH.