Prospect Retro: Miguel Montero
http://www.minorleagueball.com/2009/7/27/964406/prospect-retro-miguel-montero
Miguel Montero was signed by the Diamondbacks as a free agent out of
Venezuela in 2001. He made his North American debut in 2002, hitting
.263/.343/.401 in 50 games for Missoula in the Pioneer League. I didn't write
about many short-season players back then, but would have rated Montero as a
Grade C prospect based on his early performance. He returned to Missoula in
2003 and put up similar but slightly improved numbers :.301/.352/.434. His
defense was rated as OK but not great, and again I would have given him a
Grade C.
Montero reached full season ball in 2004, hitting .263/.330/.409 for South
Bend in the Midwest League. This wasn't bad at all for a 21 year old catcher,
but his defense drew just mixed reviews and he wasn't showing up on prospect
lists, regarded as more or less an organization player with a slight chance
to get beyond that, still a Grade C type.
Things changed in 2005. He got off to a terrific start at Lancaster in the
California League, hitting .349/.403/.625 with 24 homers in just 85 games.
However...it was Lancaster in the California League, a great hitting park in
a great hitting league, and not everyone believed this breakout was real.
Doubts rebounded after he hit just .250/.311/.352 in 30 games following a
promotion to Double-A Tennessee. His glove was rated as solid average by
scouts, but it was the bat that would make or break his chances as a regular.
I gave him a Grade C+ in the 2006 book, wring that he was young enough for
the improvement to be real, but that "I tend to be leery of guys who have big
bursts like that in hitter's parks."
Montero made some adjustments and hit a more impressive .270/.362/.438 in 81
games for Tennessee in 2006, showing greatly improved plate discipline.
Promoted to Triple-A Tucson, he hit .321/.396/.515 in 36 games, then received
a six game trial in the majors. I really liked the fact that he improved his
strike zone judgment in his second trial in Double-A, and gave him a Grade B+
in the 2007 book.
Montero spent all of 2007 with Arizona, but hit just .224/.292/.397 in 84
games. His glovework was okay but not great, and he platooned with Chris
Snyder much of the season. He improved with the bat in 2008 (.255/.330/.435)
in 70 games, and has taken another step forward this year, hitting
.295/.361/.485 in 72 games so far. He has been on a tear in July, hitting
.378/.410/.689 this month. In 641 at-bats, Montero is a career .259/.327/.437
hitter with 24 homers and 40 doubles.
Montero turned 27 earlier this month. Although he's not a spectacular player,
he has developed steadily on offense. My guess is that he'll have a very
strong season in 2010, corresponding with typical age 27/28 peak. How you
rate his defense depends on what data you're looking at. He's below average
at throwing out runners, but by other measures he's OK with the glove.
Basically if he hits he can play, and I think he'll hit very well over the
next year or two. I don't know if I buy the idea that he'll age particularly
well, though.
Pre-season PECOTA comps: Joe Garagiola (bad comp, Montero is better), Ed
Herrmann (can sort of see that), Ron Hodges (bad comp, Montero is better),
Eddie Taubensee (I can see that), Joe Ginsberg, Duke Sims (sure), Rick
Wilkins, Jerry Willard, Mike Sweeney (???), and Dave Duncan. Mike Macfarlane
shows up at number 13. PECOTA looks confused on a few of them, but most of
these guys hung around for awhile and were useful players.
Basically, I think Montero will have a very good age 27/28 year in 2010, hit
something like .295/.370/.500, then fall back to earth in 2011 and hang
around for awhile as a left-handed hitting catcher with some pop and an okay
glove.
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