There are reasons to have some concern with each of them, especially Dwyer, but barring a career-threatening injury, it is years too early to “give up” on either one.

Part of the concern for both dates back to last year, as both saw their performance drop following promotion. Both of their K/9 rates dipped. Montgomery saw his BB/9 jump to almost 4.0 BB/9 when he moved up to the more hitting friendly AA. Dwyer’s walk rate jumped too in his short stint in AA last year, but his 3.5 BB/9 in high A ball was not great in such a pitching friendly environment. So unlike Montgomery, Dwyer has always had some control problems. Montgomery also has more room for error with his high groundball rate, while Dwyer has been closer to neutral.

Their performances so far are disappointing, but pitchers do not develop in the same general linear progression as hitters. Given his prior track record and scouting records, Montgomery should at least get a full year before any concern should start to turn into worry. There is more reason to wave a yellow flag for Dwyer, but there is still a ways to go before it turns into a red flag and even longer before it becomes a white flag.