Elehuris Montero

Elehuris Montero
Montero with the Albuquerque Isotopes in 2022
Hiroshima Toyo Carp – No. 95
Third baseman / First baseman
Born: (1998-08-17) August 17, 1998 (age 26)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 1, 2022, for the Colorado Rockies
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.228
Home runs21
Runs batted in87
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Elehuris Montero (born August 17, 1998) is a Dominican professional baseball first baseman for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies.

Career

St. Louis Cardinals

Montero signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as an international free agent in August 2014.[1] He made his professional debut in 2015 with the Dominican Summer League Cardinals where he hit .252 with three home runs and 30 RBIs in 57 games. He played 2016 with the Dominican Summer League Cardinals, batting .260 with one home run and 26 RBIs in 61 games, and 2017 with the Gulf Coast Cardinals where he compiled a .277 batting average with five home runs and 36 RBIs in 52 games.

Montero started 2018 with the Peoria Chiefs where he was named a Midwest League All-Star.[2] After slashing .321/.381/.529 with 15 home runs, 69 RBIs, and 28 doubles in 102 games, he was promoted to the Palm Beach Cardinals in August.[3][4] In 24 games for Palm Beach, he hit .286 with one home run and 13 RBIs.[5] Following the season, Montero was named the Midwest League Most Valuable Player.[6]

Montero began 2019 with the Springfield Cardinals, and was placed on the injured list in April.[7] He returned to play in May, but was once again placed on the IL at the end of the month. He was activated once again in July. Over 59 games with Springfield, Montero hit .188 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs. He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Glendale Desert Dogs following the season.[8] Montero was added to St. Louis' 40–man roster following the 2019 season.[9] Montero did not play a minor league game in 2020 since the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

Colorado Rockies

On February 1, 2021, Montero was traded to the Colorado Rockies along with Austin Gomber, Mateo Gil, Tony Locey, and Jake Sommers in exchange for Nolan Arenado.[11] To begin the year, he was assigned to the Double–A Hartford Yard Goats.[12] He was promoted to the Triple–A Albuquerque Isotopes during the season.[13] Over 120 games for the 2021 season, he slashed .278/.360/.529 with 28 home runs and 86 RBI.[14]

He returned to the Isotopes to begin the 2022 season.[15] On April 29, 2022, Montero was recalled and promoted to the major leagues for the first time after Kris Bryant was placed on the injured list.[16] On August 6, Montero hit his first career home run, a solo shot off of Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly.[17] In 53 games during his rookie campaign, he slashed .233/.270/.432 with six home runs and 20 RBI. Montero played in 85 games for the Rockies during the 2023 season, hitting .243/.290/.426 with career–highs in home runs (11) and RBI (39).[18]

Montero played in 61 games for Colorado in 2024, batting .206/.268/.305 with four home runs, 28 RBI and a -1.6 Wins Above Replacement. On June 30, 2024, Montero was designated for assignment by the Rockies.[19] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Albuquerque on July 4.[20] Montero elected free agency following the season on November 4.[21]

Hiroshima Toyo Carp

On November 8, 2024, Montero signed with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball.[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ Johnny Campos (June 15, 2018). "Montero showing talent beyond his years for Chiefs - Sports - Journal Star - Peoria, IL". Pjstar.com. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  2. ^ Brozdowski, Lance (July 18, 2018). "Johan Oviedo, Elehuris Montero on different paths in Peoria". Viva El Birdos. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  3. ^ Dave Eminian. "Chiefs All-Star Montero is a hit in the Midwest League - Sports - Journal Star - Peoria, IL". Pjstar.com. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  4. ^ Dave Eminian (August 7, 2018). "Ouch: Chiefs star Elehuris Montero promoted by Cardinals to Palm Beach day after MWL honors - Sports - Journal Star - Peoria, IL". Pjstar.com. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  5. ^ "Elehuris Montero Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  6. ^ Staff (May 30, 2018). "Former Chiefs slugger Elehuris Montero named Midwest League MVP - Sports - Journal Star - Peoria, IL". Pjstar.com. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  7. ^ RotoWire Staff (April 4, 2019). "Cardinals' Elehuris Montero: Assigned to Double-A". CBSSports.com. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  8. ^ Post-Dispatch store (August 29, 2019). "Cards notebook: Reyes set to test arm; Robinson released; Carlson picked for AFL | St. Louis Cardinals". stltoday.com. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  9. ^ "Cardinals add three prospects to 40-man roster ahead of Rule 5 deadline | News Headlines". kmov.com. November 20, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  10. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
  11. ^ Connor Byrne (March 22, 2020). "Cardinals Acquire Nolan Arenado". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  12. ^ Amore, Dom (April 30, 2021). "Former Colorado Rockies first-round draft pick Ryan Rolison highlights Hartford Yard Goats' 2021 opening day roster". courant.com.
  13. ^ "Isotope Montero, part of Rockies' Arenado trade, shows great promise - Albuquerque Journal". www.abqjournal.com. September 11, 2021.
  14. ^ "Bird, Montero, Feltner Honored as Organizational All-Stars". MiLB.com.
  15. ^ "Isotopes 2022 Opening Day Roster Announced".
  16. ^ "Rockies place Kris Bryant on injured list with back soreness, promote Elehuris Montero to majors". cbssports.com. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  17. ^ "Montero's first career homer | 08/06/2022". MLB.com.
  18. ^ "The curious 2023 season of Elehuris Montero". purplerow.com. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  19. ^ "Rockies Designate Elehuris Montero, Reinstate Elias Diaz From 10-Day IL". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  20. ^ "Rockies Outright Elehuris Montero". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  21. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2024). "Minor League Free Agents 2024". Baseball America. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  22. ^ "NPB's Hiroshima Carp Sign Elehuris Montero, Re-Sign Taylor Hearn". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 8, 2024.