MLB WORLD SERIES: PHILLIES VS ASTROS

October 30, 2022

Rafael Montero

Citizens Bank Park

Houston Astros

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. Rafael, Dusty mentioned earlier today that you were close to having surgery at some point, either at the end of last season or this winter. How real of a possibility was that and kind of how were you able to kind of rehab and get back and pitch for this team?

RAFAEL MONTERO: First off, I think I put everything just in God's hands to just trust him to do whatever he thought was best. I think like the rehab here, the process here of rehab was really good. I did some really good exercises to help me through and thankfully we are here.

Q. How much do you take pride in being part of a bullpen that has been probably the most dominant in the playoffs so far?

RAFAEL MONTERO: Yeah, I'm always just thanking God for giving me the opportunity of being part of this great bullpen. Again, I think a lot of it is I put a lot of work in the off-season in the Dominican Republic, so these are part of the results.

Q. What does it mean to you the confidence that the Astros have showed in you this season?

RAFAEL MONTERO: Yeah, it definitely means a lot for me. Again, like I always do, thanking God for allowing me to be in this position and for allowing me to do a good job like I did during the season.

Q. You're throwing harder this year than at any point in your career. Is that just a product of being fully healthy or did the Astros kind of maybe tweak the mechanics or how did they kind of, how have you been able to do that?

RAFAEL MONTERO: Yeah, I think that it came mostly after I got Tommy John surgery. After that point, I had been hitting 96, 97. I've gone up all the way to 99. Again, I think I worked really well in the off-season in the Dominican Republic, so I think that's part of it.