Montero speaking language of success
03/04/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- When Miguel Montero came to the United States from Venezuela after signing with the Diamondbacks, he didn't speak a word of English.
He was 19 and he'd head to Missoula, Mont., of all places. But even at that age, Montero knew that if he was going to have a future as a professional catcher, he'd have to expand his linguistic horizons.
"My first goal as soon as I signed with the Diamondbacks and as soon as I came to the United States, my first goal was to make the big leagues like all the players want to," Montero said. "My second goal was to learn the language. It's very important inside the game, inside the park, outside the field.
"You need to communicate, wherever you are, with the people. It was pretty important for me. I'm a catcher and I needed to communicate with my pitchers. It's the most important thing, I think."
Montero, now 22, speaks English better than most native speakers. It's something that hasn't gone unnoticed within the organization, a tool just as important as power or throwing accuracy.
"Learning English was a big part of it for him," said Mike Rizzo, Diamondbacks vice president of scouting operations. "We entrust on him he can communicate with pitchers and players. He took it upon himself to delve into the language.
"He's a model citizen and a big leader with the Latin contingent in our organization."
His future is as more than a translator. Montero had shown potential since signing five years ago, but the year he had in 2005 vaulted him onto prospect radars everywhere. The lefty-hitting catcher hit .349 with 24 homers and 82 RBIs in 85 games with Lancaster in the Class A Advanced California League. He earned an invite to the Futures Game and a promotion up to Double-A Tennessee.
Double-A proved to be a little tougher for Montero, who hit just .250 and slugged .352 (after posting a .625 in Lancaster) in 30 games before being shut down with a rib-cage injury. The combination of the ailment plus the higher level of competition made things more difficult than anticipated.
"When I got hurt, I wanted to keep playing because I was five RBIs from getting to 100," Montero said. "But they stopped me from playing. I couldn't play anyway, my rib cage hurt so bad. I couldn't cough or anything. I would overswing sometimes and I wanted to overdo my job. That was my problem right there.
"I saw a lot of difference in the pitching staffs, better location, better pitchers, better command, the pitchers throw more strikes. I got in a slump, as soon as I got out of the slump, I got hurt. It's not an excuse, but I got in a slump. Everybody in baseball gets in a slump. It was my time."
It may also soon be his time in the big leagues. After going 8-for-19 in the Arizona Fall League, Montero returned home and proceeded to hit .284 with six homers and 22 RBIs in 49 games with Occidente in the Venezuelan Winter League.
But it's not the offensive numbers that have the Diamondbacks buzzing. Arizona always knew he could swing the stick, but his improvement in handling the catching end of things has the organization really excited and thinking of him in the same sentence with other elite D-Backs prospects like Stephen Drew, Carlos Quentin and Conor Jackson.
"We have high expectations for him," Rizzo said. "One of our best prospects and he plays a premium position. He's always been an offensive catcher, but his defense has really come on the last couple of years.
"He's coming into his own as a game-caller, a leader behind the plate. So we have very high expectations in the very near future."
That near future began when he came to big-league camp for the first time. Likely ticketed for a return to Double-A to start the season, Montero is soaking up as much knowledge as possible for as long as he stays in the Major League clubhouse. Just being around players who have done what Montero one day hopes to do has been an invaluable experience.
"This motivates me," Montero said. "When I was a kid, I saw a lot of the guys who are in here now on TV. Now, I'm training with those guys. It's motivating. I want to play in the big leagues with those guys. I'm here now, I want to work hard to be here soon for good."
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
TUCSON, Ariz. -- When Miguel Montero came to the United States from Venezuela after signing with the Diamondbacks, he didn't speak a word of English.
He was 19 and he'd head to Missoula, Mont., of all places. But even at that age, Montero knew that if he was going to have a future as a professional catcher, he'd have to expand his linguistic horizons.
"My first goal as soon as I signed with the Diamondbacks and as soon as I came to the United States, my first goal was to make the big leagues like all the players want to," Montero said. "My second goal was to learn the language. It's very important inside the game, inside the park, outside the field.
"You need to communicate, wherever you are, with the people. It was pretty important for me. I'm a catcher and I needed to communicate with my pitchers. It's the most important thing, I think."
Montero, now 22, speaks English better than most native speakers. It's something that hasn't gone unnoticed within the organization, a tool just as important as power or throwing accuracy.
"Learning English was a big part of it for him," said Mike Rizzo, Diamondbacks vice president of scouting operations. "We entrust on him he can communicate with pitchers and players. He took it upon himself to delve into the language.
"He's a model citizen and a big leader with the Latin contingent in our organization."
His future is as more than a translator. Montero had shown potential since signing five years ago, but the year he had in 2005 vaulted him onto prospect radars everywhere. The lefty-hitting catcher hit .349 with 24 homers and 82 RBIs in 85 games with Lancaster in the Class A Advanced California League. He earned an invite to the Futures Game and a promotion up to Double-A Tennessee.
Double-A proved to be a little tougher for Montero, who hit just .250 and slugged .352 (after posting a .625 in Lancaster) in 30 games before being shut down with a rib-cage injury. The combination of the ailment plus the higher level of competition made things more difficult than anticipated.
"When I got hurt, I wanted to keep playing because I was five RBIs from getting to 100," Montero said. "But they stopped me from playing. I couldn't play anyway, my rib cage hurt so bad. I couldn't cough or anything. I would overswing sometimes and I wanted to overdo my job. That was my problem right there.
"I saw a lot of difference in the pitching staffs, better location, better pitchers, better command, the pitchers throw more strikes. I got in a slump, as soon as I got out of the slump, I got hurt. It's not an excuse, but I got in a slump. Everybody in baseball gets in a slump. It was my time."
It may also soon be his time in the big leagues. After going 8-for-19 in the Arizona Fall League, Montero returned home and proceeded to hit .284 with six homers and 22 RBIs in 49 games with Occidente in the Venezuelan Winter League.
But it's not the offensive numbers that have the Diamondbacks buzzing. Arizona always knew he could swing the stick, but his improvement in handling the catching end of things has the organization really excited and thinking of him in the same sentence with other elite D-Backs prospects like Stephen Drew, Carlos Quentin and Conor Jackson.
"We have high expectations for him," Rizzo said. "One of our best prospects and he plays a premium position. He's always been an offensive catcher, but his defense has really come on the last couple of years.
"He's coming into his own as a game-caller, a leader behind the plate. So we have very high expectations in the very near future."
That near future began when he came to big-league camp for the first time. Likely ticketed for a return to Double-A to start the season, Montero is soaking up as much knowledge as possible for as long as he stays in the Major League clubhouse. Just being around players who have done what Montero one day hopes to do has been an invaluable experience.
"This motivates me," Montero said. "When I was a kid, I saw a lot of the guys who are in here now on TV. Now, I'm training with those guys. It's motivating. I want to play in the big leagues with those guys. I'm here now, I want to work hard to be here soon for good."
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
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