Dodgers' Montas out two to four months

When the Dodgers acquired Frankie Montas in December, the question was just how quickly the right-handed flamethrower would reach Los Angeles. With days to go until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training, that timeline has been pushed back.

Montas will miss two to four months after undergoing rib resection surgery, the team announced Friday evening. According to the Dodgers, he had a stress reaction in his rib that necessitated the procedure.

Ranked No. 95 overall in MLB.com's 2016 Top 100 Prospects list, the 22-year-old was acquired from the White Sox last December in the three-team deal that sent Reds third baseman Todd Frazier to Chicago. Montas spent most of last season with Double-A Birmingham, where he spun a seven-inning no-hitter in June. In 23 starts for the Barons, he went 5-5 with a 2.97 ERA and 108 strikeouts over 112 innings while earning a midseason Southern League All-Star nod and Futures Game selection.

The native of the Dominican Republic debuted with the White Sox on Sept. 2 and went 0-2 with a 4.80 ERA in seven appearances, including two starts. Montas finished the year on his best big league note, striking out seven while allowing a run on two hits over four innings in an Oct. 4 loss to Detroit.

Montas can touch triple digits with his fastball, which received a 70 grade MLB.com's 20-80 scouting scale. Scouts debate whether the 6-foot-2 hurler is best suited for the rotation or the bullpen due to questions about his delivery and control, but the White Sox were pleased with his progress last year before sending him to the Dodgers.

"Command has been kind of a question mark, but he's getting better," White Sox director of player development Nick Capra said last October when Montas was named an Organization All-Star. "He still needs to pound the strike zone with a few more strikes. His breaking ball has gotten better. His changeup has gotten better. Everybody knows about his power arm."

Montas finished 2015 as the Dodgers' No. 4 prospect and likely was slated to begin the 2016 season with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

December's trade was the second of Montas' career. Signed by the Red Sox in 2009, he was sent to Chicago in another three-team deal in July 2013 that shipped big league starter Jake Peavy to Boston and shortstop Jose Iglesias to the Tigers.