Remembering Jesus Montero
Jesus Montero, a former Yankees prospect, tragically passed away earlier this month at the age of 35 due to a motorcycle accident.
His career was marked by significant highs and lows, including a memorable minor league rehab period with the Mariners in 2014, which involved some awkward moments, a rude scout, and yes, an ice cream sandwich.
Montero originally signed with the Yankees in 2006 and spent five seasons in the majors. He was traded to the Mariners in a high-profile deal for Michael Pineda before the 2012 season, after playing just 18 games in 2011.
With the Mariners, Montero struggled to regain his form. By spring training in 2014, he found himself 40 pounds overweight.
His season began in the minors, and he played only six games for the Mariners before suffering from torticollis. In August, he started a rehab stint with the Low-A Everett AquaSox, where he endured constant taunts from Mariners scouts.
Even though he hadn’t yet joined the roster, Montero took on the role of first base coach during a game against the Boise Hawks. During the game, scouts shouted at him to get off the field quickly, with comments like, “Rapid! Rapido!”
Things took a turn when one scout, known as “Crosschecker,” sent an ice cream sandwich to Montero in the dugout, poking fun at his weight gain.
That clearly didn’t sit well with Montero. Upset by the lack of respect, he approached the stands wielding a bat, which led to an intense scene.
No one was injured in the chaos, although Montero needed to be restrained at one point. He ultimately ended up tossing the ice cream sandwich at the scout.
The disrespectful scout was fired shortly thereafter, while Montero faced a suspension for the remainder of the season. Fans left the stadium that night, taken aback by what they had just witnessed—an incident unlike any other.
In the final season of his career, Montero played 38 games for Seattle, ending with a batting average of .223 and five home runs. He went on to play in the Mexican League in 2017 and continued in the Mexican Baseball League from 2018 to 2021.
Ultimately, Montero’s life ended too soon in a motorcycle accident in his home country of Venezuela, and the Yankees confirmed his passing on Sunday.
