It was a bit of good news and bad news on Friday for the Colorado Rockies.
The $182 million man, Kris Bryant, is going on the 10-day injured list with a back strain. In his stead, corner infield prospect Elehuris Montero has been promoted to the Majors for the first time in his career.
Bryant was scratched from Tuesday’s game in Philadelphia with back issues and missed the next two games. He will be eligible to be activated on May 6 when Colorado travels to Arizona.
According to manager Bud Black, that is precisely the plan, should all go well over the next week.
As for the power-hitting Montero, he’s picked up where he left off in 2021 when he hit 30 home runs between Double-A Hartford, Triple-A Albuquerque and a stint in the Dominican Winter League.
Elehuris Montero homered once every 15 at-bats in the pitcher-friendly Double-A Eastern League in 2021 before being promoted to Triple-A late in the year. His production did not fall off against players four and five years older than him. Photo Credit: Hartford Yard Goats
Through 20 games in the Pacific Coast League this season, he has a slash line of .288/.356/.450 with four home runs and 12 RBI.
“He’s off to a nice start,” manager Bud Black said of the 23-year-old. “He’s been one of their consistent performers down there hitting in the middle of the order. He’s progressing as we had hoped this season. I suspect that this will be a learning experience for him.”
The promotion of Montero marks the second player from the highly-criticized Nolan Arenado trade to appear on the Rockies in as many years.
“When you get traded for a superstar like Nolan, you want to be that type of caliber player. That’s one of the goals. You want to be a superstar as well.” Through an interpreter, Montero clarified by adding this Spring Training, “You don’t want to be like him, but you want to strive to do the things that he’s done.”
Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals for $300,000 out of the Dominican Republic as an international free agent in 2014, Montero shot up the organization’s farm system rankings following an outstanding performance in the Midwest League in 2018 that resulted in being named the MVP at only 19-years-old.
A down season in 2019 due to a broken hamate bone tamped down his stock before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the 2020 MiLB season, wiping away any chance he had to prove doubters wrong.
Though Montero is a third baseman by trade, he’s been working at first base since last year.
“I felt great because it’s another opportunity for me to get more playing time,” Montero said about the transition across the diamond. “The first time was a tough adjustment. But the more experience I got over there, it felt a little bit better.”
With Ryan McMahon at third base and the duo of C.J. Cron and Connor Joe at first base, the one logical place in the lineup for Montero may be as the designated hitter.
“He can probably get some DH at-bats, maybe against a left-handed pitcher,” Black said of Montero’s place on the roster.
Could a more creative solution be found in order to get the infielder from the Dominican Republic some big league experience?
“There’s a possibility he could play some third base and move McMahon over to second base,” Black admitted ahead of Friday’s contest with the Cincinnati Reds.
With Brendan Rodgers struggling and the need for more offense always an important requisite for winning ball games, any and every option should be considered.
While Montero is not in the starting lineup, it’s only because he is currently in transit from New Mexico. The decision to call him up occurred late in the morning and he’s expected to arrive at some point during the game.
