Yanks Go Yard
FanSided

Yankees: 8 players unable to live up to the hype

By Ryan Doyle

MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 22: A detailed view of the Franklin batting gloves worn by Greg Bird #33 of the New York Yankees during the game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on August 22, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 22: A detailed view of the Franklin batting gloves worn by Greg Bird #33 of the New York Yankees during the game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on August 22, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 9
Next
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Jesus Montero #63 of the New York Yankees looks on against the Detroit Tigers during Game Two of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 2, 2011 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Tigers defeated the Yankees 5-3 to even the best of five series at one game apiece. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Jesus Montero #63 of the New York Yankees looks on against the Detroit Tigers during Game Two of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 2, 2011 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Tigers defeated the Yankees 5-3 to even the best of five series at one game apiece. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

C Jesus Montero (2011)

It seems like ages ago that Jesus Montero was one of the premiere Yankees prospects. He was hyped as the next in the line of great catchers to suit up in pinstripes.

It seemed he was groomed at the perfect time, right as Jorge Posada’s career was winding down, Montero was tearing up the minor leagues. Fans were hearing for years about Montero’s bat and potential as a middle of the lineup power threat.

Montero didn’t disappoint in his first Major League action as a 21-year-old. In 18 games, he hit .328, with four homers and 12 RBI, giving the fans a glimpse into what looked like a fantastic career.

Then, the Yankees stunned many fans, shipping Montero to Seattle for a talented young pitcher in Michael Pineda. At the time, many would have expected a proven front-end starter in return for Montero, not a 22-year-old pitcher coming off his first big league season.

Must Read. Yankees: Ten Unsung heroes from the 2000s. light

As Pineda went through an endless number of highs and lows in New York, Montero crashed and burned after a solid 2012 campaign in the Pacific Northwest.

Montero played in 135 games in his first year with the Mariners, hitting .260/.298/.386 with 15 bombs. After that, he fell apart. He was connected to the Biogenesis steroid scandal, suspended, showed up to spring training 40 pounds overweight and later would nearly get into a physical altercation with a scout in the Seattle organization over an ice cream sandwich.

In the end, it looks like Seattle and New York shipped a problem for a problem and although the Yanks technically won the trade,  Pineda faced his fair share of scandals in pinstripes and was only able to provide glimpses of stardom in his four years in pinstripes (Wait for more on Big Mike).

Thankfully, Yankees fans would only have to wait a few more years before Gary Sanchez arrived, quickly making Montero a distant memory.

Home/Yankees History