Jesus Montero

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked New York Yankees #1 prospect in 2012
  Montero should be ready for the New York spotlight, because few prospects have received such scrutiny in the minor leagues. It started as soon as he signed out of Venezuela in 2006 for $2 million. His bonus later was reduced to $1.65 million, and the scout who signed him, Carlos Rios, was fired for receiving kickbacks on international deals. Montero rifled through the lower levels of the minor leagues before spending the last two seasons at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Scouts thought he looked bored in 2011 before his first callup to the majors. He sizzled in September, slugging two homers against the Orioles in his fourth game and earning a spot on New York's postseason roster. No organization has produced offensive catchers like the Yankees, and club officials admit they prioritize hitting ability in their catchers more than most organizations do. Montero fits New York's profile. One of the more accomplished righthanded hitting prospects to come around in years, Montero combines hand-eye coordination with an innate ability to get the fat part of the bat on the ball. While he's not a walk machine, he has gained a better feel for the strike zone with experience. His front-foot swing isn't for everyone, but his tremendous strength makes it work and he projects to hit .290-.300 with well above-average power. His natural swing path produces excellent pop to the opposite field, and he should be able to exploit the dimensions at Yankee Stadium. Defensively, Montero continues to work hard to overcome his huge frame, and his offensive production makes him more palatable behind the plate. Despite plenty of attention from catching coordinator Julio Mosquera, Montero never will grade better than below-average as a receiver. New York believes that will be acceptable, citing Posada's career. Montero did cut his passed balls from 15 in 2010 to seven last season, when his .997 fielding percentage led International League backstops. Despite solid arm strength, he threw out just 21 percent of the 93 basestealers who tested him in 2011. His long throwing stroke costs him consistency and accuracy. He's a well below-average runner who's prone to hitting into double plays. Montero's righthanded power fits well into a New York lineup that overly relies on the aging Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez from that side of the plate. Montero is ready to catch 50 or so games a year while also getting regular at-bats at DH. His defense probably would be too much of a liability for him to catch any more. He should get 400-500 big league plate appearances in 2012 and follow Robinson Cano as New York's next homegrown all-star position player.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #1 prospect in 2011
  The top international talent in the summer of 2006, Montero has lived up to the hype and his $1.65 million bonus. He played in the 2008 and 2009 Futures Games but didn't earn a spot in the 2010 contest because of a poor first half. In his first shot at Triple-A, he batted just .214 through June 6, but rallied to hit .351 with 14 homers in 44 second-half games and ranked in the top five in the International League in doubles (34), extra-base hits (58) and total bases (234). Montero nearly became a Mariner in July, when the Yankees thought they had worked out a deal in which he'd be the centerpiece of a package for Cliff Lee. But Seattle wound up opting for Justin Smoak and three prospects from the Rangers when New York wouldn't include infielder Eduardo Nunez or righthander Ivan Nova. Montero may be the best all-around hitter in the minors, capable of hitting .300 with 30-plus homers annually. He doesn't have typical hitting mechanics, as he doesn't always have a smooth swing and can be a bit of a front-foot hitter, but his strength and handeye coordination help him overcome that. He has well above-average power, particularly to the opposite field, making him well-suited for Yankee Stadium. Some club officials compare him to their greatest recent development success story, Robinson Cano, for his handsy swing and natural feel for hitting. Cano became an MVP-caliber hitter when he improved his game preparation and batting-practice routine, and Montero could use more discipline in those areas as well. He tinkers with his stance, and could use a more professional approach to BP. Scouts rarely criticize his hitting tools, though, focusing more on his work as a catcher. Montero has worked hard to become a passable defender, improving his fitness and flexibility, but will have to keep working to remain behind the plate. He generally earns below-average grades for his catch-and-throw skills, and he led the IL with 15 passed balls while throwing out just 23 percent of basestealers. He has above-average arm strength but a slow transfer and inconsistent accuracy on his throws, which tend to sink. He's a well below-average runner and needs to keep up his conditioning to avoid being a baseclogger. The Yankees' willingness to trade Montero was more a reflection of their desire to obtain Lee and the catching depth in the system than any reflection on him. He doesn't have anything left to prove in the minors as a hitter, and his defense doesn't look so bad when coupled with his offense or when compared to that of 39-year-old Jorge Posada. GM Brian Cashman has said Montero will get the chance to earn a spot on New York's 2011 roster. Now that he has experienced failure and learned how to respond to it, he should be able to earn a job as at least a part-timer at catcher and DH in 2011. The best-case scenario is that he develops into the second coming of Mike Piazza, and Montero has enough bat for first base (where he'd be blocked by Mark Teixeira) or DH if he can't stick at catcher.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #1 prospect in 2010
  Montero ranked with corner infielders Balbino Fuenmayor and Angel Villalona, shortstops Esmailyn Gonzalez and Carlos Triunfel and catcher Francisco Pena as the top talents available on the international market in 2006. All signed big-money deals, and three years later, Montero is far and away the best prospect of the group. He got off to the roughest start. He initially signed for $2 million, but his bonus was renegotiated down to $1.65 million for reasons that never have been fully disclosed. He was overmatched in his first instructional league but has punished pitchers ever since. Montero broke out by finishing second in the low Class South Atlantic League batting race at .326 in 2008 and was even better last season. He hit .337/.389/.562 and reached Double-A Trenton at age 19. A fractured left middle finger cost him the last six weeks of the season, and his rust showed with a poor start to winter ball in Venezuela. Montero doesn't have a classic swing or textbook rhythm, but he's gifted with hand-eye coordination, keen pitch recognition, a knack for barreling balls and tremendous strength. He can be out front or off balance on a pitch and still crush it. He covers the plate well and makes excellent contact. Montero hasn't delivered completely on his raw power, but he's close to projecting as an 80 hitter with 80 power on the 20-80 scouting scale. One veteran scout called him the best young hitter he has seen in years. Montero has solid to plus arm strength and threw out 32 percent of basestealers in Double-A, success the Yankees ascribe to his improved transfer and pitchers doing a better job holding runners. He even showed some 1.9-second pop times, according to one club official. Montero has improved under the tutelage of catching coordinator Julio Mosquera, but he still grades out as a below-average defender. The Yankees no longer talk about him as an everyday major league catcher. His defense frequently is compared to Mike Piazza's, though he's a bit more athletic. Montero is somewhat stiff and lacks agility behind the plate, leading to 11 passed balls in 59 games last year. He also threw out just 13 percent of base stealers at high Class A Tampa, and they tested him 108 times overall--nearly two attempts per game. While he improved, he has a long arm stroke that slows his transfer and detracts from his arm strength. His modest athleticism and below average speed probably preclude a move to the outfield or third base, a position he played prior to signing. In a different organization, Montero probably would just move to first base and mash, like Paul Konerko did when he came up through the Dodgers system in the mid-1990s. However, Mark Teixeira just finished the first year of an eight-year contract and isn't going anywhere. With an older roster, the Yankees aren't likely to break Montero into the lineup as strictly a DH. He's expected to catch at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2010, mixing in time at DH and perhaps first base. He's prime trade bait but also could be a complement to the New York's veteran sluggers in short order--if the Yankees can find a lineup spot for him.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #2 prospect in 2009
  Two years after signing for $1.65 million, Montero broke out, finishing second in the low Class A South Atlantic League in batting (.326) and total bases (258) while leading the league in hits (171). He was an SAL all-star and played at Yankee Stadium in the Futures Game, with his parents flying up from Venezuela to watch him. One club official said Montero has the system's best bat since Derek Jeter, only with much more power. Montero has tremendous strength and generates well-above-average bat speed. He has excellent hands and a feel for hitting balls squarely, and isn't afraid to use the whole field. He also has above-average arm strength and has made significant strides defensively. Offensively, Montero is learning to balance patience with aggressiveness. Defensively, he's so big and inflexible that he has trouble receiving balls down and to his right. His arm strength plays down because he has a slow transfer, and he threw out just 25 percent of basestealers in 2008. Montero has the bat and athleticism to profile as a first baseman or perhaps even a left fielder, but the Yankees see him as another Mike Piazza if he can remain behind the plate. He'll start 2009 at high Class A as a 19-year-old and could jump on an even faster track.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #6 prospect in 2008
  Montero signed for $2 million, the highest bonus of any international free agent in the summer of 2006. He had a difficult fall, however, struggling in instructional league and having his signing bonus reduced to $1.6 million. Industry chatter about the reasons for the reduction hasn't been officially confirmed. Montero has exceptional raw power to all fields, coupling a discerning eye for a young player with brute strength and bat speed. He has plenty of arm strength for his position and natural leadership ability, with an effusive personality and improving knowledge of English. At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Montero already has grown very large for an 18-year-old. The Yankees say he has lowerbody flexibility, necessary for blocking balls in the dirt, and he has worked hard to become a solid receiver. There are mixed opinions about his ability to stay at catcher, and he'll have to keep working on his body and catch-and-throw skills to stay behind the plate. He threw out just three of 32 basestealers (9 percent) in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in his pro debut. If Montero can remain a catcher, he profiles as a future all-star. He has a leg up on 2007 second-round pick Austin Romine, who has yet to play as a pro, for the starting catching job at short-season Staten Island.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #21 prospect in 2007
  Montero was one of the more anticipated free agents on the 2006 international market when it opened in July, and New York moved quickly to land him for the second-highest bonus of the signing period. Then-international scouting director Lin Garrett raved about Montero's top-of-the-line power, as well as his makeup and work ethic. Despite the Yankees' impressive summer in Latin America, they fired Garrett after the summer. Scouts from other organizations agreed that Montero had more power--present and future--than any other international prospect available. However, Montero had his doubters, starting with his position. His physical, mature frame may yet outgrow the catcher's spot. One scout compared him to Travis Hafner physically, and it wasn't meant as a compliment. His maxed-out body also led to suspicions that Montero wasn't really 16. Club officials reiterated that there was no age issue, but in December they confirmed that his signing bonus, originally reported as $2 million, had been adjusted down to $1.6 million. Montero disappointed the Yankees at their fall minicamp with his hitting and his fielding. He has yet to play in an organized game and hitters with 80 power potential on the 20-80 scouting scale are hard to come by, so New York will give Montero time. He's likely to begin 2007 in extended spring training and make his pro debut in the Gulf Coast League in June.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked International League #5 prospect in 2011
  For the second straight season, Montero started slowly at Scranton before showing why he's regarded as one of the most dangerous hitting prospects in the game. He continued to do so after a September callup, batting .328/.406/.590 in 18 games. Montero doesn't have the prettiest swing but compensates with exceptional strength and hand-eye coordination. He crushes balls to all fields and projects as a .300 hitter with 30 homers per year. That would be elite production for a catcher--if he can stay at the position. While Montero has made defensive progress since arriving in Scranton last year, several league observers remain unconvinced he'll be consistently good enough to be a big league catcher. He has arm strength but has a slow release and lacks accuracy on his throws, retiring just 20 percent of IL basestealers. He lacks athleticism and still has a ways to go with his receiving and game-calling, and he loses focus too often.
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  Ranked International League #4 prospect in 2010
  In a league full of catching prospects, Montero was the IL's postseason all-star at the position. After an uncharacteristically slow start, he batted .351 with 14 homers in 44 games in the second half. He was the youngest regular in the league. In terms of hitting for average and power, Montero may have the highest ceiling in the minor leagues. He has tremendous strength and a knack for barreling balls when he gets in rhythm, as he did in the second half. He showed more patience at the plate in 2010 than he had in the past. Scouts and managers still aren't sold that Montero can be a regular catcher, however. He allowed a league high 15 passed balls and 99 steals while throwing out 23 percent of basestealers. He has maintained his athleticism and agility as he has gotten older, but he's still below-average in both departments.
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  Ranked Eastern League #5 prospect in 2009
  Montero earned a midseason promotion to Double-A as a teenager thanks to his unique hitting ability. It certainly didn't owe to his defense, as scouts and managers cast doubts on his catching skills. Montero is an acceptable receiver but is so big-bodied and stiff that he struggles significantly when blocking balls in the dirt. He also has a slow release that negates his average-to-plus arm strength. He did improve in the EL at throwing out baserunners, nabbing 32 percent (14 of 44). It's his bat that separates Montero from the pack. One scout compared him to the Giants' Pablo Sandoval, who also tore up the EL last year offensively but gave scouts pause because of his lack of a defensive position and poor physique. He does not share Sandoval's unbridled enthusiasm or high energy, though. One manager compared him to Prince Fielder, as the high-end offensive comparison. "It's a major league bat," Beyelor said, "pure hit and pure power." "He can really, really handle the bat and really hit," the AL scout said. "When he shows up to play, it's pretty good. I don't think he'll get away with showing up every other night in the big leagues, especially behind the plate, but it could just be youthful mistakes."
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  Ranked Florida State League #2 prospect in 2009
  For a second straight season, the Yankees paired catchers Montero and Andrew Romine, sending both to Tampa to start 2009. It's hard to argue with the results, as Montero quickly played his way to Double-A while Romine stayed in Tampa and won league MVP honors. Montero has huge power to all fields, but FSL observers were just as impressed by his controlled swing, which enables him to make consistent hard contact. He was the toughest out in the league. Montero's work behind the plate didn't garner many favorable reviews. He has an adequate arm, but his footwork is poor and he rushes his throws, which causes even more problems. He gave up 56 steals and threw out just eight runners (13 percent) in 26 games.
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  Ranked South Atlantic League #7 prospect in 2008
  There are a lot of similarities between Villalona and Montero, who signed for $1.6 million out of Venezuela in 2006. Both are primarily offensive players whose approach to the game can be questionable at times, but both were very young for the league and have undeniably high ceilings. Montero also earned a spot in the Futures Game, led the SAL in hits (171) and placed second in batting (.326). "He's got a real good approach at the plate and power to all fields," Asheville manager Joe Mikulik said. "He hit home runs to left, center and right against us. I didn't see him catch and throw as well as I would have liked, but his offensive approach at his age is solid for this league." Montero is likely to continue to don the tools of ignorance for the immediate future, but he's more likely to reach Yankee Stadium as a first baseman or left fielder. He has more athleticism than most 6-foot-4, 225-pounders, but he's already huge for a catcher and still growing. His arm strength is decent, but he threw out just 25 percent of SAL basestealers.
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  Ranked Florida Complex League #2 prospect in 2007
  Montero got the second-highest bonus on the international market last year, signing for $1.6 million out of Venezuela. He missed the first three weeks of the GCL season with a right ankle sprain, but once he finally got rolling, he showed the top-of-the-line raw power that made him wealthy. Montero homered just three times during the regular season but added two more in the GCL playoffs. He doubled and homered off Dodgers 2007 second-rounder Michael Watt in the clincher to give the Yankees the league title. Montero has a smooth stroke with impressive bat speed that produces easy pop. His swing can get long at times, but he has advanced plate discipline and strike zone awareness for a teenager. The biggest question surrounding Montero is his ability to stay behind the plate. He was considered a defensive liability prior to making his U.S. debut, and he threw out just three of 32 basestealers (9 percent), the worst rate among GCL regulars. But he does have plus arm strength, average receiving skills and improved game-calling ability. "He really made strides in all aspects of the game from the beginning of spring training until the end of the year," Yankees manager Jody Reed said. "And it wasn't just the offense. He vastly improved behind the plate and with making mental adjustments as the season wore on."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #6 prospect in 2012
• Ranked Baseball America's #3 prospect in 2011
• Ranked Baseball America's #4 prospect in 2010
• Ranked Baseball America's #38 prospect in 2009

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Montero should be able to handle the pressure of getting traded for Michael Pineda and the expectations that he can jump-start the Mariners offense, because few prospects have received such scrutiny in the minor leagues. It started as soon as the Yankees signed Montero out of Venezuela in 2006 for $2 million. His bonus later was reduced to $1.65 million, and the scout who signed him, Carlos Rios, was eventually fired for receiving kickbacks on international deals. Montero rifled through the lower levels of the minor leagues and spent just 44 games in Double-A before spending the last two seasons in Triple-A. Scouts thought he looked bored in 2011 before his first callup to the majors. Looking to upgrade their pitching, the Yankees sent Montero and Hector Noesi to the Mariners for Pineda and righthander Jose Campos. Scouting Report: One of the more accomplished righthanded hitting prospects to come around in years, Montero hit .308/.366/.501 in five minor league seasons. He combines hand-eye coordination with an innate ability to get the fat part of the bat on the ball. He can square up pitches all over the strike zone, and while he's not a walk machine, he has gained a better feel for the strike zone with experience. Montero's front-foot swing isn't for everyone, but his tremendous strength makes it work and he projects to hit .290-.300 with well above-average power in the big leagues. His natural swing path produces excellent pop to the opposite field, and he should be able to hit homers even in cavernous Safeco Field, which is especially tough on righty sluggers. No organization has produced offensive catchers like the Yankees with Bill Dickey, Yogi Berra, Thurman Munson and Jorge Posada. Club officials admit they prioritize hitting ability in their catchers more than most organizations and Montero fit New York's profile--though most scouts from other organizations continue to question whether he can stay behind the plate. The Mariners have faith that he will, but Montero will have to continue to work hard to overcome his huge frame. He'll never grade as better than below average as a receiver, though his offensive production may make his defense palatable. He cut his passed balls from 15 in 2010 to seven last season, when his .997 fielding percentage led International League backstops. Despite solid arm strength, he threw out just 21 percent of the 93 basestealers who tested him in 2011. His long throwing stroke costs him consistency and accuracy. He's a well below-average runner who's prone to hitting into double plays. The Future: According to the Yankees, Montero ended the season at 13 percent body fat, a sign he's ready for the grind of the big leagues physically. His righthanded power is needed in a Seattle lineup that hasn't gotten a 20-homer season from a righty since Jose Lopez three years ago. Montero is ready to catch 50 or so games a year while also getting regular at-bats at DH. If the Mariners need him to catch more than that--which they may not with Miguel Olivo and John Jaso on hand--Montero's defense probably would be too much of a liability.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Montero should be ready for the New York spotlight, because few prospects have received such scrutiny in the minor leagues. It started as soon as he signed out of Venezuela in 2006 for $2 million. His bonus later was reduced to $1.65 million, and the scout who signed him, Carlos Rios, was fired for receiving kickbacks on international deals. Montero rifled through the lower levels of the minor leagues and spent just 44 games at Double-A Trenton before spending the last two seasons at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Scouts thought he looked bored in 2011 before his first callup to the majors. He sizzled in September, slugging two homers against the Orioles in his fourth game and earning a spot on New York's postseason roster. Scouting Report:: No organization has produced offensive catchers like the Yankees, who have suited up the likes of Bill Dickey, Yogi Berra, Thurman Munson and Jorge Posada. Club officials admit they prioritize hitting ability in their catchers more than most organizations do. Montero fits New York's profile--as do fellow farmhands such as Gary Sanchez, J.R. Murphy and Greg Bird. One of the more accomplished righthanded hitting prospects to come around in years, Montero combines hand-eye coordination with an innate ability to get the fat part of the bat on the ball. He can square up pitches all over the strike zone, and while he's not a walk machine, he has gained a better feel for the strike zone with experience. His front-foot swing isn't for everyone, but his tremendous strength makes it work and he projects to hit .290-.300 with well above-average power. His natural swing path produces excellent pop to the opposite field, and he should be able to exploit the dimensions at Yankee Stadium. Defensively, Montero continues to work hard to overcome his huge frame, and his offensive production makes him more palatable behind the plate. Despite plenty of attention from catching coordinator Julio Mosquera, Montero never will grade better than below-average as a receiver. New York believes that will be acceptable, citing Posada's career. Montero did cut his passed balls from 15 in 2010 to seven last season, when his .997 fielding percentage led International League backstops. Despite solid arm strength, he threw out just 21 percent of the 93 basestealers who tested him in 2011. His long throwing stroke costs him consistency and accuracy. He's a well below-average runner who's prone to hitting into double plays. The Future: According to the Yankees, Montero ended the season at 224 pounds and 13 percent body fat, a sign he's ready for the grind of the big leagues physically. His righthanded power fits well into a New York lineup that overly relies on the aging Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez from that side of the plate. Montero is ready to catch 50 or so games a year while also getting regular at-bats at DH. If the Yankees need him to catch more than that, his defense probably would be too much of a liability. He should get 400-500 big league plate appearances in 2012 and eventually follow Robinson Cano as New York's next homegrown all-star position player.
• December, 2010 Scouting Report
  The top international talent in the summer of 2006, Montero has lived up to the hype and his $1.65 million bonus. He played in the 2008 and 2009 Futures Games but didn't earn a spot in the 2010 contest because of a poor first half. In his first shot at Triple-A, he batted just .214 through June 6, but rallied to hit .351 with 14 homers in 44 second-half games and ranked in the top five in the International League in doubles (34), extra-base hits (58) and total bases (234). Montero nearly became a Mariner in July, when the Yankees thought they had worked out a deal in which he'd be the centerpiece of a package for Cliff Lee. But Seattle wound up opting for Justin Smoak and three prospects from the Rangers when New York wouldn't include infielder Eduardo Nunez or righthander Ivan Nova. Montero may be the best all-around hitter in the minors, capable of hitting .300 with 30-plus homers annually. He doesn't have typical hitting mechanics, as he doesn't always have a smooth swing and can be a bit of a front-foot hitter, but his strength and handeye coordination help him overcome that. He has well above-average power, particularly to the opposite field, making him well-suited for Yankee Stadium. Some club officials compare him to their greatest recent development success story, Robinson Cano, for his handsy swing and natural feel for hitting. Cano became an MVP-caliber hitter when he improved his game preparation and batting-practice routine, and Montero could use more discipline in those areas as well. He tinkers with his stance, and could use a more professional approach to BP. Scouts rarely criticize his hitting tools, though, focusing more on his work as a catcher. Montero has worked hard to become a passable defender, improving his fitness and flexibility, but will have to keep working to remain behind the plate. He generally earns below-average grades for his catch-and-throw skills, and he led the IL with 15 passed balls while throwing out just 23 percent of basestealers. He has above-average arm strength but a slow transfer and inconsistent accuracy on his throws, which tend to sink. He's a well below-average runner and needs to keep up his conditioning to avoid being a baseclogger. The Yankees' willingness to trade Montero was more a reflection of their desire to obtain Lee and the catching depth in the system than any reflection on him. He doesn't have anything left to prove in the minors as a hitter, and his defense doesn't look so bad when coupled with his offense or when compared to that of 39-year-old Jorge Posada. GM Brian Cashman has said Montero will get the chance to earn a spot on New York's 2011 roster. Now that he has experienced failure and learned how to respond to it, he should be able to earn a job as at least a part-timer at catcher and DH in 2011. The best-case scenario is that he develops into the second coming of Mike Piazza, and Montero has enough bat for first base (where he'd be blocked by Mark Teixeira) or DH if he can't stick at catcher.