Former Toronto Blue Jays catcher killed in traffic accident

Jesus Montero, the former catcher who spent five seasons in Major League Baseball with both the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners, has passed away. He was 35.

Montero, who was from Venezuela, was injured in an accident two weeks ago, when the motorcycle he was driving collided with a pickup truck. He was taken to hospital where he remained for several days before succumbing to his injuries early Sunday morning.

Montero was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 2006 and made his major league debut with the club in 2011. The following offseason he was dealt, along with Hector Noesi, to Seattle for pitcher Michael Pineda.

He found spent four years with the Mariners, seeing time at both catcher and first base, though ultimately designated him for assignment just prior to the start of the 2016 season.

Ironically, it was former Blue Jays first baseman/DH Adam Lind who squeezed Montero after a job.

Shortly after being cut by Seattle, Montero signed a minor league deal with Toronto. While he never appeared in a big league game for the Blue Jays, he did suit up 126 times for Triple-A Buffalo, where he slashed 317/.349/.438 with 11 home runs and 60 RBI.

Towards the end of his tenure, he was suspended for 50 after testing positive for a banned substance. He ultimately became a free agent at the end of the 2016 season.

He played half a season in the minors with the Baltimore Orioles before ending up in the Mexican League.

He last played in the Venezuelan Winter League in 2021.

Blue Jays Central mourns his loss and sends thoguhts to his family and friends.