CARACAS (AP) — Jesús Montero, a Venezuelan native who once graced the fields with the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners, has passed away following a traffic accident in Venezuela two weeks ago, officials confirmed on Sunday. He was 35.
The former catcher collided with a truck while riding his motorcycle on October 4, leaving him critically injured and hospitalized. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries, as stated by authorities.
“Venezuelan baseball bids a sorrowful farewell to Jesús Montero, whose legacy of dedication and fervor for the sport endures,” expressed the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League in a heartfelt statement on X. “Today, the baseball community mourns his loss but celebrates his life with gratitude: for every thrilling home run, for his pride in representing his nation, and for inspiring countless young fans to chase their dreams.”
No further information was disclosed by the league.
The tragic accident reverberated throughout the South American nation, prompting an outpouring of condolence messages across social media platforms.
Montero’s major league career included 18 games with the Yankees during the 2011 season and 208 games with the Mariners, concluding in 2015.
In his brief major league career, he batted .253, hit 28 home runs and had 104 RBI.
In 2016, while still in the Toronto Blue Jays’ minor league system, he was suspended 50 games after testing positive for dimethyl butylamine, a stimulant that helps combat fatigue. It was Montero’s second suspension for violating anti-doping regulations after a 50-game ban in 2013.
In the Venezuelan Winter League, he played six seasons with the Navegantes del Magallanes, Cardenales de Lara, and Águilas del Zulia. He retired at age 31 after the 2020-2021 season.
