I felt compelled to go and scan Montero's minor league numbers ...
Wow! Kid destroys every lower level by age 19, and is basically handling AAA at age 20 as well as Ackley is handling AA at age 22. (Not comping him to Ackley, of course - just commenting on the relative placement on the development highway).
But, yeah ... I could see salivating over the "conservative" projection of ...
Ackley and Montero spending 2011 together in Tacoma -- and becoming the foundation for a dynasty starting in 2012. (Obviously, with special talents - normal schedules are often revised - as happened with Heyward this season). One or both "could" make the 2011 MLB roster. But the numbers suggest Montero is still "raw" as a defensive catcher, (pretty low CS% - and nothing to be happy about in terms of PBs).
But, if you want another catcher comp -- try McCann. His line wasn't as BA-driven as Montero's - but the same 60-ish patience and 190-ish ISO. And McCann skipped AAA completely. (But, McCann had VASTLY superior defensive stripes - (37% CS - and only 23 PBs in 205 minor league games).
Oddly enough, I've a growing appreciation for batting average in the minors being a "tell" for ability to transition to the majors. Seems like VERY few below .270 hitters in the minors "make it" in MLB, even if they have sick patience and/or power numbers. I'm thinking that the .300 average in the minors is a "tell" of how adept a hitter is at squaring up a ball. A .260 minors hitter CAN crush a ball he hits squarely - but if he can't square up AA and AAA pitching - the leap to the Bigs seems to destroy lots of otherwise promising hitters.
Montero's numbers are about 60 points better than McCann's - but that's the double-dip on average. So, on the surface, I'd give Montero BETTER odds at handling the majors (compared to McCann).
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