Free-agent corner infielder Elehuris Montero is signing a one-year deal for $850,000 ($400,000 signing bonus) with the Hiroshima Carp of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. Montero will head overseas to play in Japan and perhaps boost his value in the big leagues down the road after hitting a weak .205/.267/.304 with a career-low .571 OPS, only four home runs, 28 RBI, 20 walks and 56 strikeouts in 247 plate appearances over 67 games in his third year in the Show. The 26-year-old Dominican posted a .228/.277/.387 slash line, .665 OPS, 21 home runs, 87 RBI and 84 runs scored in 205 games for the Colorado Rockies in three seasons after debuting as an undrafted free agent in 2022. In addition to struggling at the plate in his three years in the big leagues, Montero was moved to first base full time after struggling with his glove at the hot corner.
Colorado Rockies first baseman Elehuris Montero has been one of the best hitters in the minor leagues since being demoted in July. Through 30 games at Triple-A Albuquerque, the 25-year-old has held an incredible .411/.479/.766 slash line with 10 home runs, 31 RBI, and a 15:28 BB:K ratio. In the big leagues this season, Montero struggled as he held a mere .205/.267/.304 line with just four home runs through 67 games. Montero should be a name to closely monitor as he could be returning to the major leagues very soon. He has an upside for power and could be an intriguing stash candidate in deeper redraft formats.
The Colorado Rockies announced on Sunday that they designated infielder Elehuris Montero for assignment on Sunday to make room for the return of catcher Elias Diaz (calf) from the 10-day injured list. Montero hit .243/.290/.426 with 11 home runs, 39 RBI and 40 runs scored in 307 plate appearances over 85 games in his second major-league season in 2023 for the Rockies. However, he could be on his way to a new organization in 2024 after slashing just .206/.268/.305 with four long balls, 28 RBI and 23 runs scored in 66 games for the Rockies this year while striking out 55 times in 246 plate appearances. The 25-year-old wasn't even able to keep his spot on the active roster with veteran Kris Bryant (oblique) hurt again this year. Montero being moved off the roster is good news for the power-hitting Michael Toglia.
Colorado Rockies infielder Elehuris Montero is out of the team's starting lineup as they take on the hosting Houston Astros on Tuesday. It will be the fourth straight game that Montero has found himself on the bench as he continues to lose playing time in Colorado. He's losing precious playing time to Michael Toglia, who is starting at first base on Tuesday and batting seventh against Astros right-hander Hunter Brown. The 25-year-old Dominican right-handed slugger doesn't belong on rosters in mixed fantasy leagues at this point, as he's also slashing just .209/.272/.309 with a weak .581 OPS, four home runs, 10 doubles, 28 RBI, 23 runs scored, 20 walks and 53 strikeouts in 243 trips to the plate over 65 games in his third year in the majors. Montero has been worse in June, going 10-for-57 (.175) with a homer, three doubles, seven RBI and 18 K's in 17 games played.
Elehuris Montero Could Force His Way Into Regular Playing Time
Colorado Rockies first baseman Elehuris Montero went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer during Thursday's Cactus League game against the Chicago Cubs. MLB.com's Thomas Harding relayed that manager Bud Black sees Montero as a candidate to play first base or designated hitter in 2024. The veteran skipper also mentioned the club could occasionally play Kris Bryant in right field in order to get Montero's bat in the lineup. This is high praise for the 25-year-old right-hander as he looks to improve on a 2023 campaign in which he slashed .243/.290/.426 with 11 homers, a 4.9 K%, a 36.2 BB%, and a 76 wRC+.
The Colorado Rockies optioned infielder Elehuris Montero to Triple-A Albuquerque after Sunday's game. Montero will head back to the farm to work on some things offensively after hitting just .198/.223/.321 with two home runs, five doubles, a triple, 13 RBI and 11 runs scored in 112 trips to the plate over 35 games in his second major-league season. The 24-year-old third baseman went only 6-for-42 (.143) with a home run, two doubles, four RBI, three runs scored and 18 strikeouts in 14 games since June 10. Montero will need to raise his walk rate and lower his strikeout rate at Albuquerque before the Rockies give him another chance in the second half of the 2023 season.
Colorado Rockies corner infielder Elehuris Montero is off to a solid start in 2023. He is slashing .250/.250/.438 with a home run and two RBI across 16 plate appearances. The 24-year-old has started at third base and hit in the middle of the order for all three games. He has won the starting third base gig over veteran Mike Moustakas. Montero homered on Opening Day and is coming off a big spring, hitting .312 with five homers and 12 RBI over 22 games in Cactus League action. He can be used as a streamer in Week 2 as the Rockies have four of six games at home in a favorable matchup against the Nationals. Fantasy managers searching for corner infield help should look to add Montero in all league formats.
Colorado Rockies corner infielder Elehuris Montero was the star of Friday's 7-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants, going 2-for-4 at the plate with two home runs and five RBI. Both long balls came off Giants starter Alex Wood. Montero has just 93 major league at-bats to his name, but he's put together a terrific .305/.328/.576 slash line in August since being called up most recently earlier in the month. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on the slugger, especially given the advantageous home field in Denver.
The Colorado Rockies recalled infielder Elehuris Montero and left-hander Ty Blach from Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday. The team also added right-hander Ryan Feltner as the 27th man for Tuesday's doubleheader against the San Diego Padres, and he will start in Game 1. Montero, the team's No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will give the team another right-handed bat with Kris Bryant (foot) landing on the injured list on Monday night. The 23-year-old Dominican has gone 6-for-34 (.176) with no homers, no RBI and 15 strikeouts in his first 11 major league games, and he's unlikely to see regular playing time. Feltner has a 5.59 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 35 strikeouts in 37 innings over eight outings (seven starts) for the Rockies in 2022. He'll be a shaky streaming option in fantasy.
The Colorado Rockies recalled third base prospect Elehuris Montero from the minors on Tuesday and optioned right-hander Chad Smith in a corresponding move. This will be Montero, the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, second call-up of his rookie season. In four previous games for the Rockies this year, the 23-year-old went 2-for-13 with no home runs, RBI or runs scored. He was hitting .327/.395/.563 with a .958 OPS, 13 home runs, 43 RBI, 35 runs scored and three stolen bases in 53 games for Triple-A Albuquerque, but he's expected to be more of a utility infielder in his second major league call-up. It might be another short stint with the Rockies, too, with Kris Bryant expected to rejoin the team shortly. Fantasy managers in standard single-year mixed leagues shouldn't spend a ton on Montero.
Elehuris Montero
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