Coco Montes, formerly a Colorado Rockies minor league second baseman, has just signed with a Nippon Professional Baseball team, according to Francys Romero.
The deal has been confirmed, Montes will join the Yomirui Giants.
The 27-year-old from Miami, Florida, has had a stellar season with the Isotopes, showcasing his talent with remarkable stats. His .335 batting average, currently leading the Pacific Coast League, is a testament to his skill. He also boasts a .965 OPS and nine home runs, a significant improvement from his 22 home runs in an entire season last year with Albuquerque. Despite his limited time with the Rockies in the majors, Montes made an impact with his .184 batting average, a .560 OPS, and one home run.
According to RotoWire, the Rockies released Montes on Tuesday, which led to an NPB team signing the second baseman. This move allows Montes to get consistent playing time, revitalize his career, and potentially make a triumphant return to MLB.
Montes’ journey through the Rockies system is a testament to his dedication and talent. He has been a consistent performer since the Rockies first signed him in 2018. He started with the Grand Junction Rockies, the Rookie affiliate, where he put up impressive numbers even in his first year, with a .333 average, a .926 OPS, and eight home runs in 267 at-bats.
His success led him to get promoted to the Asheville Tourists, where he had a .258 average, a .711 OPS, and 13 home runs. The home runs were the most of Montes’s baseball career, including collegiate baseball, where he played at South Florida from 2016-18.
Montes played for the Hartford Yard Goats in 2021 and 2022, putting up a .258 batting average, a .764 OPS, and 13 home runs in 2021, where he played for Hartford for an entire season. In April 2022, he got the call-up to Albuquerque and had a .274 batting average, a .859 OPS, and 20 home runs, which was incredible for him.
As Montes strives to thrive in Japan, his journey has been long within the minor leagues. He is now ready to take his skills as a good baseball player to Japan, where he aims to significantly impact his new NPB team. His potential is something to look forward to and be excited about.
Photo Credit: Coco Montes #3 of the Colorado Rockies is congratulated by Nolan Jones #22 after hitting a 2 RBI home run. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
