Frankie Montas
A Dominican flamethrower whose high-velocity arm and devastating splitter made him one of baseball's most electric and sought-after pitchers when healthy.
Born 1993 (age 33)·Dominican baseball player·Birthday: March 21·Millennials
Biography
Frankie Montas emerged from the baseball-rich soil of the Dominican Republic, signing with the Boston Red Sox as an international free agent in 2009. His journey to the majors was a winding one, marked by trades and the patient refinement of a raw, powerful arm. It was in Oakland where he truly blossomed, transforming from a reliever into a rotation anchor. The 2021 season was his masterpiece: he unleashed a blistering fastball and a virtually unhittable split-finger pitch to dominate American League hitters, finishing sixth in Cy Young voting. His career, however, has been a narrative of brilliance punctuated by shoulder injuries, leading to surgeries and a relentless cycle of comeback attempts. Teams continue to bet on his tantalizing potential, knowing that a fully operational Montas can change the complexion of a playoff series with his sheer power on the mound.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Frankie was born in 1993, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Frankie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1993
#1 Movie
Jurassic Park
Best Picture
Schindler's List
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Frankie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1993Born
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1998Started school
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2006Became a teenager
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Could drive
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2011Could vote
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Turned 21
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2023Turned 30
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 33 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Finished sixth in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2021 after posting a 3.37 ERA and 207 strikeouts for the Oakland Athletics.
- Pitched a complete-game one-hit shutout against the Seattle Mariners in September 2021, striking out ten batters.
- Led the American League with an average of 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings during the 2021 season.
Did You Know?
He was originally signed as a shortstop before being converted to a pitcher.
His fastball has been clocked at over 100 miles per hour.
He was traded from the Chicago White Sox to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the three-team deal that sent Todd Frazier to the White Sox.
“You trust your fastball and attack the zone; that's the job of a starting pitcher.”
