Montanez Bypassed By Theriot for West Tenn SS Slot
Jackson Sun sportswriter Kary Booher is surprised that the Cubs bypassed 2000 1st round draft pick Luis Montanez in favor of Ryan Theriot to take over SS at Double-A West Tennessee. The starting SS position recently opened up when the Cubs cut 29-year-old Nick Ortiz because . . . well . . . he’s 29 and still in Double-A.
Montanez is currently playing at High-A Daytona, one level lower than West Tenn, while Theriot had been playing at Low-A Lansing. Not only that, but Theriot had been playing second, rather than short. I’m not sure anyone should be surprised by the bypass, though. Montanez, 21, is repeating a year at Daytona and he still hasn’t figured out Florida State League hitting. After posting a 686 OPS there last year, he’s at 643 this year in 68 games. Outside of his rookie ball campaign in 2000, Montanez hasn’t shown the promise that would justify his having been taken in the 1st round.
Meanwhile, Theriot, 23 and a 2001 3rd round draft pick out of LSU, doesn’t appear to be much of a hitter, either, though he will draw some walks. But likely it’s his age more than anything that got him the promotion over Montanez.