Former MLB participant Jesús Montero, who was as soon as referred to by New York Yankees common supervisor Brian Cashman as “the perfect participant I’ve traded,” died Sunday from accidents suffered in a bike accident earlier this month. He was 35.
The Venezuelan Skilled Baseball League reported Montero’s passing on social media, referring to the power-hitting catcher, designated hitter and first baseman as somebody with “a robust bat, an unforgettable presence, a coronary heart that cherished this recreation.”
“Thanks for each at-bat, each residence run, on daily basis you proudly defended our colours,” the league wrote in Spanish on Instagram. “Relaxation in peace, Jesús. Your legacy lives on in each fan who ever celebrated with you.”
Along with six seasons with the Venezuelan league, Montero performed 5 main league seasons, one with the Yankees and 4 with the Seattle Mariners. Each groups, in addition to MLB, mourned Montero with posts on X.
Born in Guacara, Venezuela, Montero was 16 when he was signed by the Yankees as a world free agent in 2006. He labored his method via the minor leagues, twice showing within the All-Star Futures recreation, and made his MLB debut late within the 2011 season. In 61 at-bats over 18 video games that September, Montero had a batting common of .328 and OPS of .996 with 4 residence runs and 12 RBIs.
That offseason, Montero was traded to Seattle as a part of a blockbuster bundle deal that despatched pitcher Michael Pineda to New York.
“He might very properly be the perfect participant I’ve traded,” Cashman advised reporters on the time. “He’s that good. He’s a middle-of-the-lineup kind bat.”
Montero performed 208 video games for the Mariners, hitting 24 residence runs with 92 RBIs. His time with the group was marred by struggles along with his weight and a 50-game performance-enhancing drug ban in 2013, as he was amongst a number of gamers disciplined by MLB for his or her relationship to Biogenesis of America.
In 2016, Montero performed within the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system and obtained one other 50-game suspension following the season after testing optimistic for banned stimulant dimethylbutylamine. He performed a part of the 2017 season within the Baltimore Orioles minor league system, then spent a number of extra years taking part in baseball in Mexico and Venezuela earlier than retiring in 2021.
Montero reportedly crashed his bike right into a truck Oct. 4 and had been hospitalized in important situation since then. Authorities stated he was unable to get better from a number of accidents.
Taneth Gimenez — Montero’s ex-wife and mom of their two youngsters, Loren and Jesús — has posted a number of tributes to her former husband on her Instagram Story since his passing.
“Could the Lord obtain you in your glory,” she wrote in Spanish on one put up. “Thanks for giving me the best present I’ve, my youngsters.”
She added in one other, additionally in Spanish: “I hold the nice instances tattooed on my soul.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
