Former Mariners top prospect from blockbuster Yankees trade dies in tragic accident

The Seattle Mariners have received tragic news concerning a member of their baseball family. Former catcher Jesús Montero, who played four seasons in Seattle between 2012 and 2015, has passed away at the age of 35.

Reports out of Montero's native Venezuela indicated that he had been involved in a motorcycle accident on October 4. He was subsequently listed in critical condition at Dr. Enrique Tejera Hospital in Valencia, and news of his passing circulated widely on Sunday, October 19.

Montero began his baseball career as a hot-shot prospect with the New York Yankees back in 2006. He signed for a $2 million bonus and was only 17 years old in his first minor league season in 2007. From there, he went on to cement himself as a top-10 overall prospect in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

In 2012, Baseball America's report on Montero praised him as a star hitter in the making:

"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."

Baseball America in 2012

Montero's time with the Yankees was ultimately limited to 19 games between the regular season and postseason in 2011, after which he went to the Mariners in a blockbuster trade in January of 2012. Seattle received Montero and pitcher Hector Noesi, with the Yankees receiving pitchers Michael Pineda and Jose Campos.

Former Mariners catcher Jesús Montero passes away at the age of 35

Montero had justified the hype in his cup of coffee with the Yankees in 2011, batting .328 with four home runs down the stretch of the regular season and then going 2-for-2 in the playoffs. Once he joined the Mariners, he was meant to be a key piece in a turnaround following a 95-loss season.

Unfortunately, his 135 games for the Mariners in 2012 yielded a .685 OPS and 15 home runs, and subsequent seasons brought further complications. He was suspended for 50 games in 2013 as part of the Biogenesis scandal, by which time he had already suffered a torn meniscus after a demotion to the minors.

The following year, Montero was involved in one of the more infamous baseball moments of the 2010s. A scout with the Everett AquaSox, reportedly upset with Montero's lack of hustle while he was on a rehab assignment, ordered an ice cream sandwich and had it sent to Montero in the dugout. An altercation ensued that proved to be the end of the season for both Montero and the scout.

Montero responded by showing up for the 2015 season in better shape after losing 45 pounds over the offseason, spurring hopes that he would put it all together in his age-25 season. He did post an impressive .966 OPS in 98 games with Triple-A Tacoma, but only a .661 OPS in 38 games for the Mariners.

Montero went to the Toronto Blue Jays via waivers in March of 2016. He did not see the majors for them that year, which ended with him being suspended again after testing positive for a banned substance. He then signed with the Baltimore Orioles for the 2017 season, which would ultimately be his last in affiliated baseball. He last played in the Venezuelan Winter League in 2021.

Our thoughts are with Montero and his family, friends, and loved ones, as well as with anyone who still carries memories of his sweetest swings.