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LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers pitcher Frankie Montas is expected to miss between two and four months after undergoing surgery to remove his first right rib on Friday morning.
Montas had a stress reaction in his rib. The rib resection procedure was performed in Dallas, Texas by Dr. Greg Pearl, the same physician who removed a rib from Josh Beckett in 2013 to relieve pressure caused by Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.
The Dodgers say Montas will begin rehabilitation at Camelback Ranch next week. Pitchers and catchers report to big league camp on Friday, Feb. 19.
The 2-4 months is a wide window for a full recovery, and could mean the difference between missing the first two weeks of the season or the first two months.
Montas was acquired from the White Sox in December. The soon-to-be 23-year-old fireballer made his major league debut last season for Chicago, with 20 strikeouts and nine walks in his 15 innings with a 4.80 ERA. The right-hander also put up a 2.97 ERA in 23 starts for Double-A Birmingham with 108 strikeouts and 48 walks in 112 innings.
"Frankie Montas has a tremendous right arm. Our scouts feel his fastball/slider combo is one of the best in the minor leagues," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said in December. "There's no question in my mind he could step into a major league bullpen right now. But we're more of the mind to develop him as a starting pitcher."