A Tragic Death For Jesus Montero

Jesús Montero, once hailed as one of baseball’s most can’t-miss prospects, has died at the age of 35 in his native Venezuela.

The New York Yankees confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement on Sunday, saying, “The Yankees are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jesús Montero. We send our sincerest condolences to his family and loved ones.”

According to Venezuelan sports outlets, Montero had been involved in a serious traffic accident several weeks ago. 

Montero’s talent was undeniable from the start. Signed out of Venezuela by the Yankees as a teenager, he made his professional debut in 2007 at just 17 years old. His bat quickly turned heads across the minors. As MLB Trade Rumors noted:

“Montero is best known for having been one of the league’s most elite prospects in the early 2010s. Signed out of Venezuela by the Yankees as an amateur, Montero made his pro debut in 2007 at the age of 17. His second professional season saw him break out at the Single-A level, where he hit .326/.376/.491 with 17 homers and 34 doubles in 132 games. That strong performance earned Montero plenty of attention prior to the 2009 season, when he became a consensus top-50 prospect in the sport.”

The expectations were sky-high. Montero’s power in Triple-A — 21 home runs and a .517 slugging percentage in 2010 — made him the Yankees’ next supposed superstar, the heir apparent to the team’s aging core. But the raw numbers didn’t translate to big-league success.

After a trade to Seattle for pitcher Michael Pineda, Montero’s career took a sharp turn. His tenure with the Mariners was marked by inconsistency, diminished production, and a now-infamous 2014 incident in which he reportedly tried to confront a team scout during a minor league rehab game.   

Seattle eventually waived him in 2016, and while Montero had short-lived stints with the Blue Jays and Orioles organizations, his once-promising major league career never found its footing again.

Montero’s story — from prodigy to tragic figure — is a sobering reminder of how unpredictable baseball can be. For all the hype, the magazine covers, and the scouts’ glowing projections, the game still humbles even its most gifted players.

Jesús Montero was only 35. Gone far too soon, but forever remembered by Yankee fans who once believed they were watching the rise of a star.