Coco Montes

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Coco Montes

|image =

|caption =

|team = Tampa Bay Rays

|number = 10

|position = Infielder / Outfielder

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|10|7}}

|birth_place = Miami, Florida, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = June 11

|debutyear = 2023

|debutteam = Colorado Rockies

|debut2league = NPB

|debut2date = July 26

|debut2year = 2024

|debut2team = Yomiuri Giants

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = April 16, 2025

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .188

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 1

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 4

|stat2league = NPB

|stat2year = 2024 season

|stat21label = Batting average

|stat21value = .272

|stat22label = Home runs

|stat22value = 1

|stat23label = Runs batted in

|stat23value = 14

|teams =

Colorado Rockies ({{mlby|2023}})
Yomiuri Giants ({{npby|2024}})
Tampa Bay Rays ({{mlby|2025}}–present)

}}

Robert Patrick "Coco" Montes (born October 7, 1996) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Colorado Rockies, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants.

Career

Montes was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 35th round, with the 1,064th overall selection, of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft out of Coral Gables High School.{{cite news |last1=Knight |first1=Joey |title=Nationals draft USF closer Tommy Peterson (UPDATED) |url=https://www.tampabay.com/nationals-draft-usf-closer-tommy-peterson/2233088/ |access-date=July 16, 2023 |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=June 10, 2015}} He did not sign, and attended the University of South Florida.{{Cite web|title=Coco Montes – 2018 Baseball Roster|url=https://gousfbulls.com/sports/baseball/roster/coco-montes/8032|date=June 11, 2023|website=gousfbulls.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=2015 Baseball Draft|url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/draft/baseball-draft.php?yr=2015|date=June 11, 2023|website=baseball-almanac.com|language=en}}

=Colorado Rockies=

Montes was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 15th round, with the 456th overall selection, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft and signed.{{cite news |last1=Newman |first1=Kyle |title=Rockies' picks on the final day of the 2018 MLB Draft |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/06/06/rockies-selections-final-day-mlb-draft/ |access-date=July 16, 2023 |work=Denver Post |date=June 6, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Knight |first1=Joey |title=USF's Coco Montes continues hitting tear at pro level |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/usf-bulls/2018/07/09/usfs-coco-montes-continues-hitting-tear-at-pro-level/ |access-date=July 16, 2023 |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=July 9, 2018}}

Montes made his professional debut in 2018 with the rookie–level Grand Junction Rockies.{{Cite web|title=Grand Junction's Montes busts loose again|url=https://www.milb.com/news/coco-montes-records-another-five-hit-game-for-grand-junction-rockies-292544184|date=June 11, 2023|website=milb.com|language=en}} He was named the Pioneer League MVP after hitting .333/.413/.513 with 8 home runs and 42 RBI in 69 contests.{{Cite web|title=Montes leads Pioneer League All-Stars|url=https://www.milb.com/news/colorado-rockies-coco-montes-named-pioneer-league-mvp-293035950|date=June 11, 2023|website=milb.com|language=en}} Montes spent 2019 with the Single–A Asheville Tourists, playing in 132 games and hitting .258/.305/.406 while setting career–highs in home runs (13) and RBI (89).{{Cite web|title=Coco Montes Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/9318/coco-montes/|date=June 11, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}} Montes did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=June 9, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}}

In 2021, Montes spent the season with the Double–A Hartford Yard Goats, playing in 116 games and slashing .258/.317/.448 with 13 home runs and 60 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Isotope Montes' offseason work pays dividends at the plate|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/2513001/montes-offseason-work-paying-dividends-at-the-plate.html|date=June 11, 2023|work=Albuquerque Journal|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Yard Goats' star Coco Montes is chasing his dreams in Hartford — the same place his family rebuilt their lives after fleeing Cuba|url=https://www.courant.com/2021/08/08/yard-goats-star-coco-montes-is-chasing-his-dreams-in-hartford-the-same-place-his-family-rebuilt-their-lives-after-fleeing-cuba/|date=June 11, 2023|website=courant.com|language=en}} He was assigned to Double–A Hartford to begin the 2022 season, and was quickly promoted to the Triple–A Albuquerque Isotopes. In 111 games for Albuquerque, he batted .274/.359/.500 with 20 home runs, 77 RBI, and 13 stolen bases.{{Cite web|title=You should know more about Coco Montes|url=https://www.purplerow.com/platform/amp/2022/12/1/23487197/colorado-rockies-news-thursday-rockpile-you-should-know-more-about-coco-montes|date=June 11, 2023|website=purplerow.com|language=en}} Montes began the 2023 season with Triple–A Albuquerque, where he played in 59 games and hit .321/.401/.560 with 12 home runs, 47 RBI, and 4 stolen bases.{{Cite web|title=The time is right for Coco Montes to join the Rockies|url=https://www.purplerow.com/platform/amp/2023/5/17/23724270/the-time-is-right-for-coco-montes-to-join-the-rockies-harold-castro-ezequiel-tovar|date=June 11, 2023|website=purplerow.com|language=en}}

On June 11, 2023, the Rockies selected Montes to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time.{{cite news |title=Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon goes on 10-day IL with fracture |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/charlie-blackmon-fractured-hand-injury-colorado-rockies-outfielder/ |access-date=July 16, 2023 |publisher=CBS News Colorado |date=June 11, 2023}} He made his debut that day as the starting second baseman against the San Diego Padres, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.{{cite news |last1=Randhawa |first1=Manny |title=Longest walk-off HR of Statcast era puts Rox back in win column |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/nolan-jones-hits-walk-off-homer-after-rain-delay |access-date=July 16, 2023 |work=MLB.com |date=June 11, 2023}} The two-run home run came off of Blake Snell in the eighth inning to tie the game, and led to an eventual 5–4 victory.{{cite news |title=McMahon, Jones homers in 9th around rain delay lift Rockies over Padres 5-4 |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/401472005 |access-date=July 16, 2023 |agency=Associated Press |work=ESPN.com |date=June 11, 2023}} In 18 games for Colorado, he hit .184/.244/.316 with 1 home run and 3 RBI. On September 5, Montes was designated for assignment following the promotion of Cole Tucker.{{Cite web|title=Rockies' Coco Montes: Designated for assignment|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rockies-coco-montes-designated-for-assignment/amp/|access-date=September 5, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Albuquerque on September 7.{{Cite web|title=Rockies' Coco Montes: Outrighted to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rockies-coco-montes-outrighted-to-triple-a/amp/|access-date=September 10, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}

Montes played in 64 games for Triple–A Albuquerque in 2024, hitting .335/.414/.551 with nine home runs, 47 RBI, and five stolen bases. He was released by the Rockies organization on June 25, 2024.https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-06-25

=Yomiuri Giants=

On June 27, 2024, Montes signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|title=Coco Montes: Finds opportunity in Japan|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/coco-montes-finds-opportunity-in-japan/amp/|access-date=June 27, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}https://x.com/yakyucosmo/status/1806488830926823891?s=46&t=UN5XGiNzRq3-vt33N7zCTw In 46 games for Yomiuri, Montes batted .272/.308/.391 with one home run and 14 RBI.

=Tampa Bay Rays=

On December 23, 2024, Montes signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.{{Cite web|title=Rays Sign Coco Montes To Minor League Deal|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/12/rays-sign-coco-montes-to-minor-league-deal.html|access-date=December 23, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} On March 27, 2025, the Rays selected Montes' contract and subsequently optioned him to the Triple-A Durham Bulls.{{Cite web|title=Rays Select Coco Montes|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/rays-select-coco-montes.html|access-date=March 27, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

Personal life

Montes garnered the nickname 'Coco' after he was born with a full head of hair that his mother shaved off. His grandfather then called him {{lang|es|cocoliso}}, which loosely translates to coconut, and is slang for a bald person.{{Cite web|title=Isotopes are in love with the Coco|url=https://www.krqe.com/sports/local-sports/isotopes-are-in-love-with-the-coco/amp/|date=June 11, 2023|website=krqe.com|language=en}} In Cuba, Montes's great-grandfather, Manuel Ramírez, had been a lawyer representing American businesses. By August 1960, Ramírez arrived in Miami, Florida. He subsequently moved to Michigan, then settled in Hartford, Connecticut, and taught Spanish at Avon Old Farms. The family resettled in Miami in the 1970s.

Montes grew up idolizing Nomar Garciaparra of the Boston Red Sox.{{Cite web|title=Do-it-all Montes reaching a new level as Isotope hitter|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/2605127/do-it-all-montes-reaching-a-new-level-as-isotope-hitter.html|date=June 11, 2023|website=abqjournal.com|language=en}}