Former Mariners Catcher Jesus Montero Dead at 35

Jesus Montero — an ex-Major League Baseball player with the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees — has died … according to tribute post from the Yankees.

The team shared a photo of Montero to X Sunday morning … writing, “The Yankees are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jesús Montero. We send our sincerest condolences to his family & loved ones.”

The Seattle Times — citing Venezuelan outlets — reported earlier this month that Montero was driving a motorcycle in his home country when he was hit by a pickup truck. He was rushed to a hospital in the city of Valencia. Newsweek reported he was intubated at the hospital.

The Yankees signed Montero out of Venezuela in 2006 when he was just 17 years old … and, he made his major league debut for the club in 2011.

After playing just 18 games for NY in 2011, he was traded to the Mariners in a deal that involved pitcher Michael Pineda … and, he spent parts of the next four seasons in the Pacific Northwest, appearing in 208 games for the club.

Montero was involved in a memorable altercation in 2014 with a coach who sent him an ice cream sandwich while he was playing for the Single-A Everett AquaSox. After he received the sandwich, Montero went up into the stands with a bat to confront the coach and threw the sandwich at him.

It appears Jesus last played for the Águilas del Zulia — a Venezuelan baseball team — during the 2020-2021 season.

Montero was 35.