Tragic News: Jesús Montero Passes Away at 35

Jesús Montero, a former top prospect for the New York Yankees who later played for the Seattle Mariners, has sadly passed away at the age of 35. The Yankees confirmed the Venezuelan player’s death via a social media announcement.

The team expressed their sorrow in a statement: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jesús Montero. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”

Reports indicate that Montero was involved in a motorcycle accident in Venezuela earlier this month. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist with his hospital expenses. He fell into a coma and ultimately did not recover.

Before stepping onto the major league stage, Montero was highly ranked, being placed at No. 3 in Top Prospects by Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus heading into the 2011 season. He made his debut in the Yankees’ Rookie League at just 17, where he impressive stats included a .280 batting average along with three home runs over 33 games.

In the 2011 season, he played 18 games for the Yankees. He was traded to the Mariners in January 2012, a move that saw Michael Pineda and Jose Campos join the Yankees.

Montero’s time with the Mariners lasted from 2012 to 2015, during which he played 208 games as a catcher and designated hitter. He maintained a .247 batting average, achieving a .668 OPS and hitting 24 home runs.

After his stint with the Mariners, he also played for the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles but didn’t appear in any major league games with those teams.