Former Yankees Catcher Jesús Montero Dies at 35

Jesús Montero, 35, a former Yankees top international prospect and major-league catcher who later played for the Seattle Mariners, died on Oct. 19, 2025 in Valencia, Venezuela after succumbing to injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash on Oct. 4 that Venezuelan and U.S. reports say involved a collision with a truck or pickup; he had been hospitalized in critical condition for about two weeks. The Yankees and Mariners confirmed his death and issued tributes, and Venezuelan baseball organizations and fans also mourned. Montero was signed by the Yankees in 2006, debuted in New York in 2011, was traded to Seattle in 2012 and played parts of the 2012–15 seasons, finishing his MLB career with a .253 batting average, 28 home runs and 104 RBIs. He was the catcher during Seattle’s combined no-hitter on June 8, 2012, but his career also included two 50-game suspensions for banned stimulants and later stints in the minors, Mexican leagues and Venezuelan winter ball. He is survived by his two children and other family members.