Yankees Top Prospect Countdown: #1 Jesus Montero

#1 – Jesus Montero

Bats: R          Throws: R
Height: 6’3”           Weight: 235
D.O.B.: 11/28/89            Highest MiLB Level: AAA (short MLB call-up in 2011)

Stats:
2007 (Rookie): .280/.366/.421; 123 PA, 107 AB, 13 R, 6 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 0 SB, 12 BB, 18 K
2008 (A): .326/.376/.491; 569 PA, 525 AB, 86 R, 34 2B, 1 3B, 17 HR, 87 RBI, 2 SB, 37 BB, 83 K
2009 (A+, AA): .337/.389/.562; 379 PA, 347 AB, 45 R, 25 2B, 1 3B, 17 HR, 70 RBI, 0 SB, 28 BB, 47 K
2010(AAA): .289/.353/.517; 504 PA, 453 AB, 66 R, 34 2B, 3 3B, 21 HR, 75 RBI, 0 SB, 46 BB, 91 K
2011 (AAA): .288/.348/.467; 463 PA, 420 AB, 52 R, 19 2B, 1 3B, 18 HR, 67 RBI, 0 SB, 36 BB, 98 K
2011 (MLB): .328/.406/.590; 69 PA, 61 AB, 9 R, 4 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 0 SB, 7 BB, 17 K

Who else did you really expect to be Baseball America’s pick for the Yankees #1 prospect? Montero has been the most anticipated Yankees prospect for a long while now, and he didn’t disappoint during his end-of-season call up this past year. And even if Montero doesn’t rake at the level he did during his 18 games with the Yankees in September and October, he still figures to be a very exciting player that will provide a dangerous bat in an already stacked lineup.

It’s pretty much a given that Montero won’t be a full-time catcher, so a lot of Montero’s playing time this coming season will likely be in the DH spot. I’d like to see Brian Cashman reconsider his stance on making Montero an outfielder, as it’s no secret that the Yankees have quite a few aging players and A-Rod’s knee problems will likely require him and others to utilize the DH role more often. Putting Montero in the outfield, even if he is just an average or slightly below-average fielder, would allow for his bat to remain in the lineup even when the Captain or A-Rod need a day off from playing defense. But, of course, decisions like these are why Cashman makes the big bucks so we’ll just have to wait and see. Either way, I know I’m not the only one looking forward to having Montero in the Bronx full time.

So while we all wait

not so

patiently for the season to start, enjoy this video of Montero going yard in Scranton-Wilkes/Barre:

To see the rest of our prospect countdown, check out:
#10 – Slade Heathcott here,
#9 – J.R. Murphy here,
#8 – Austin Romine here,
#7 – Ravel Santana here,
#6 – Dante Bichette Jr here,
#5 – Mason Williams here,
#4 – Gary Sanchez here,
#3 – Dellin Betances here, and
#2 – Manny Banuelos here.

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