Monster Montero

There is no doubt that Jesus Montero is a big-time prospect. After he was sent down following a rather pedestrian Spring Training he has blown up AAA pitching. Through 9 games in this young season, Montero is destroying the ball to the tune of a .452 AVG, 1 home run, 3 doubles, and an OPS of 1.048. Nineteen hits in 42 at-bats. I think someone might be trying to prove he is worthy of the big leagues! Oh, and so far he has not allowed a passed ball or committed an error. OK, so he has thrown out only 2 of 12 base runners for a measly 14% but last year he did throw out 23% of would be base stealers. Not the greatest ratio but it shows 14% is not likely to continue. Just for comparisons, Mike Piazza threw out 23% of base runners for his career, with 35% being thrown out in his first full season. What it shows is teams can survive with a catcher who is not adept at throwing out runners. Especially when the man behind the plate is putting up ridiculous offensive numbers.

Montero's stock took a hit when he didn't make the team out of Spring Training. I don't know why the prospect gurus would sour on a kid, and he really he still is just a kid at 21, because of a poor Spring Training. This kid is going to hit in the big leagues. He has the opposite field power necessary to succeed and the plate discipline to make pitchers pay. He doesn't have a high walk rate nor does he have a ridiculous strikeout rate so prevalent in many prospects. For his minor league career, Montero has walked 123 times and struck out 244 times (including his 9 games this season) in 1,617 plate appearances. In other words, the kid puts the ball in play and does so often as evidenced by 468 hits.

Rest easy Yankee fans, this young man will be in the Bronx delighting crowds for years to come. Right now, there is no need to rush him with Russell Martin performing so well. Be patient, he will be a Yankee next season, if Brian Cashman doesn't trade him, which he shouldn't do unless he is getting a young, already established ace. The key to building a team starts up the middle. Catcher, second base, shortstop, and center field, and of course pitching, pitching, pitching. Finding a catcher who can hit like Montero is impossible. And if catcher isn't going to be his Big League position? Well, finding a hitter like Montero is a rare find and the Yankees should watch this gem mature on their own diamond, they will be much richer for it.