Jesus Montero: Another season of capped resurgence

When the Toronto Blue Jays claimed Jesus Montero off waivers in late March, there was a flash of hope. There always will be, however misguided, for players that once topped league-wide prospect lists. Especially within the past five or six years.

A 2006 amateur signing out of Venezuela back in 2006, Montero shot through the New York Yankees system. Not long after, just like his current Buffalo Bisons’ teammate Domonic Brown, he was tagged as “the next big thing”.

Everything that Gary Sanchez is currently doing in his Yankees debut? That was once the hope for Montero. 

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Following a brief and successful MLB debut in 2011, Montero was traded to the Seattle Mariners where he hit a wall. His game faltered, his weight climbed, and his defensive value as a catcher disappeared. By his 24th birthday, Jesus Montero was a “bust”.

The triple-A level has been a different story, though. From 2014 and 2015 with the Tacoma Raniers through to 2016 with the Bisons, Montero has, at the very least, salvaged his career.

On Tuesday, Montero was named to the International League postseason All-Star Team as the designated hitter. He was also named to the midseason All-Star Team.

Entering play on Tuesday, Montero ranked second in the league in hits with 150, just one behind Donovan Solano of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. With a .321 average, Montero ranks fourth in the league.

Montero has managed to keep his strikeouts at a manageable level, but 21 walks in 495 plate appearances leaves much to be desired. His 11 home runs and 24 doubles don’t quite match his former potential ceiling, but on a whole, the numbers have been there for a very productive season in Buffalo. Those I’ve spoken with also note there have been no unexpected issues with Montero’s conditioning or focus.

Between the suspension of Chris Colabello and a handful of slumps from Justin Smoak, Montero has been close to Major League consideration at times. Unfortunately for Montero, his lack of a natural position continues to hamper his chances. He’s played 25 games at first base this season, spending the rest of his time as a designated hitter. For a strict DH in triple-A, one’s numbers at the plate must be eye-popping, not just eyebrow-raising.

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Still without a spot on the 40-man roster, Montero’s season is likely to end when the Bisons wrap up on September 5th.

He’s done enough in 2016, and the two years prior, however, to keep the ball rolling on down the line. Besides, after being a noteworthy baseball name for upwards of eight years now, Montero is just 26 years old.