Statistically speaking: A teenager in his first full season, Montero hit .309 with a .348 on-base percentage and .453 slugging percentage in the first half and was even better down the stretch -- a good sign for a young hitter. He hit .344 after the South Atlantic League All-Star break, raising his OPS 140 points, thanks to big increases in OBP (.407) and SLG (.534). He led the SAL in hits and was second in batting average.
Scouting report: A big teenaged backstop who has big-time offensive skills, he should hit for average and power. His defensive skills have improved but lag behind the bat. Specifically, he's worked on the lower-half flexibility needed to be a quality receiver.
Upside potential: The long-term replacement for Jorge Posada down the line, an offensive-minded catcher at the big-league level. At worst, his bat will play at first.
They said it: "The things that were impressive about him were the fact that he's 18 years old and put up exceptional numbers in a full-season environment. That's pretty good. How fast he moves will be more a function of his defensive development." -- Mark Newman, Yankees Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations
He said it: "[I like] being the leader, being in charge, being able to run a pitching staff. I like to be one of the guys who runs the game."
Minors
