Prospect of the Day: Jesus Montero, DH-C, Seattle Mariners

by John Sickels on Apr 3, 2026 8:00 AM EDT

MESA, AZ - MARCH 8: Jesus Montero #63 of the Seattle Mariners bats during the game against the Chicago Cubs at HoHoKam Stadium on March 8, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images)

Prospect of the Day: Jesus Montero, DH-C, Seattle Mariners

Jesus Montero, DH-C, Seattle Mariners

One of the biggest trades this past winter saw the Seattle Mariners ship right-hander Michael Pineda and pitching prospect Jose Campos to the New York Yankees, in exchange for heralded young slugger Jesus Montero. This had the look of a mutually-beneficial transaction: the Mariners were looking to boost their hitting attack, while Yankees needed a starter but didn't have obvious room for Montero. Pineda is on the shelf now with shoulder problems, while the Mariners are looking at Montero as a mainstay of the lineup. Can Montero live up to his press clippings?

The Yankees signed Montero out of Venezuela in 2006, for $2,000,000. He lived up to the glowing scouting reports quickly, reaching Double-A in 2009 (and dominating), then putting in solid Triple-A campaigns in '10 (.289/.353/.517) and '11 (.288/.348/.467). Note that he's been young for his levels and is still just 22 years old. He was extremely effective during a major league trial late last year, hitting .328/.406/.590 in 18 games for the Yankees.

Montero had a good spring training this year, hitting .325/.378/.550 in 12 games, with four walks and eight strikeouts in 40 at-bats for Seattle. Scouts praise his bat speed, and expect him to hit for both average and power. Although he doesn't draw a huge number of walks, he has feel for the strike zone and makes contact more readily than many young sluggers, showing power to all fields.

The only real question for Montero is defense. The Mariners are using him as a DH to begin the season, although club officials indicate that he'll see at least some time behind the plate. He has a decent throwing arm and has worked hard to improve his mobility, however he threw out just 20% of runners in Triple-A last year. While his catching skills are better than they used to be, most observers and scouts say he'll never be more than mediocre with the glove.

If Montero hits as expected, that won't matter: the Mariners will be more than happy with him as their DH. He has nothing left to prove against minor league pitching, so expect him to get plenty of slack in Seattle even if he has a slow start.

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Read More: Jesus Montero (DH - SEA), Michael Pineda (P - NYY), Jose Campos (P - NYY), New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners

Comments

He caught Felix on yesterday's televised ST game.

I got to see him behind the dish for the first time. Now, I’m no catching talent evaluator, but… he wasn’t awful. I didn’t see anything particularly wretched yet, and the Mariners have had wretched defensive catching seemingly since Dan Wilson left in 2005, what with Olivo, Johjima, Clement, Rob Johnson and Adam Moore, then Olivo again.

Felix said after the game he was confident in pitching to him, and Felix was mixing his pitches much more than his usual regular season-self.

We’ll see how long this lasts. After reading so much on Montero’s defense, I’m still not confident.

by Double06 on Apr 3, 2026 11:23 AM EDT reply actions

if he were a mariner prospect forever

the defense reports wouldn’t nearly be as overblown.

by The Cole Train on Apr 3, 2026 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Really?

Dustin Ackley? Alex Liddi? That’s just two off the top of my head…

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Apr 3, 2026 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I'm beginning to wonder if Catricala can play a passable third base in the future.

He’s very athletic (though the same can be said about Ryan Braun), and it makes me wonder if he’s given more time, he can cut back on the errors. I know nothing about his range though. People talk about him like he’s destined for first base but I bet he can play a passable corner outfield through most of his 20s, a la Corey Hart.

by Double06 on Apr 5, 2026 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, yesterday was certainly encouraging.

I was expecting him to be a complete butcher out there, but I came away impressed with his ability to block pitches in the dirt (especially with Felix’s curveball). I heard he got an opportunity to throw out a runner and it wasn’t impressive, but I didn’t see it so I don’t really know what happened.

by jackyz on Apr 3, 2026 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions

As the Padres have shown for years,

RTO% isn’t nearly as important as it was once believed, as per linear weights. If this is the worst of Montero’s defensive concerns, I’m throwing a parade.

by Double06 on Apr 3, 2026 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

What was so bad about Johjima's defense?

this isn't DRB
you don’t get a free pass for acting like a douchebag.
Derp
by Pikachu on Dec 11, 2025 2:44 PM CST up reply actions

by SandalsNoPants on Apr 3, 2026 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Wasn't great, but wasn't bad either.

Certainly our best bat at catcher ever.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Apr 3, 2026 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions

It looks pretty good at first glance.

I’d like the guy who basically called his defense wretched to either defend his stance or take it back. E-BATTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

this isn't DRB
you don’t get a free pass for acting like a douchebag.
Derp
by Pikachu on Dec 11, 2025 2:44 PM CST up reply actions

by SandalsNoPants on Apr 4, 2026 7:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Of the catchers I listed, he was clearly the most visually pleasing.

Pitchers often complained about pitching to him though because they disliked his framing abilities. All in all, Johjima was awesome, but he certainly appeared less than average. I wasn’t saying he was wretched, but M’s catching as a whole has been wretched.

by Double06 on Apr 5, 2026 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, he was a massive piece of their catching puzzle after 2005.

You have been issued a warning.
please dont call sandy a c*nt even if he's acting like one. -rglass

by SandalsNoPants on Apr 6, 2026 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Jesus

Montero’s been said to be incapable of catching at the next level at every stage of his career. At this point, I think he’s probably above the Piazza line as a catcher*, not that it matters. Montero’s bat is very special, and you keep that bat in the lineup every day.

I’m well aware of the school of thought that says that beyond his arm, Piazza was an excellent catcher. I put no stock into it. I watched Piazza growing up as a Mets fan. He sucked defensively, but obviously his bat more than made up for it.

by GuyinNY on Apr 3, 2026 12:46 PM EDT reply actions

I have never heard of this school of thought, and now I wish I hadn't.

by Double06 on Apr 3, 2026 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm pretty sure I'm just never going to listen to any defensive scouting report for anyone ever again.

by joof on Apr 3, 2026 1:12 PM EDT reply actions

Dustin Ackley will never learn to play passible 2B

The M’s should have never moved him there. He’ll be a 1B or OF by the time he breaks into the majors.

That kind of defensive scouting report?

by CMC_Stags on Apr 3, 2026 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Exactly.

by joof on Apr 4, 2026 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

The thing about evaluating minor league catchers..

All you can really evaluate is tools and estimate potential. Catching in the majors is a skill you have to learn on the job. I’ve heard it said you really need about 3 years to see what you’ve got in a catcher. It isn’t a skill learned overnight and there’s a lot of aspects to it. If a catcher can’t block balls or throw out runners well but he can handle a pitching staff and swings a good bat. You have to look at the whole picture to evaluate him.

"When you find your way. Then you see it disappear."

by padmadfan on Apr 3, 2026 2:00 PM EDT reply actions