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New York Daily News
August 18, 2011 3:14 AM
A-Rod plays mentor to Montero
BY Kristie Ackert
Jesus Montero has two guys pushing for him to get a September call-up, including Alex Rodriguez.
"The way he has caught the last two nights, he's obviously good enough to catch in the majors," Rodriguez said. "He played with a lot of intensity. He's got all the tools."
A-Rod took his two days in Scranton with the Triple-A Yankees as an opportunity to mentor the Yankees' top hitting prospect. He took him into the indoor batting cage Wednesday afternoon and worked with him on his swing, his approach and about making the next step for about 20 minutes.
"We came in here and had a good session, talked a little bit about the mental side of hitting, the little bit about the mechanics," Rodriguez said.
Then A-Rod switched his batting practice group to hit with Montero , talking to him about hitting in between sessions. Triple-A hitting coach Butch Wynegar, who worked with Rodriguez in Texas, noticed the work the slugger did with Montero.
“He has been great with all the guys, but really taken Monty under his wing,” Wynegar said. “He is trying to show him the work it takes at the major league level. And Monty is just absorbing it all.”
Wynegar said that the brief visit has helped A-Rod get back in shape, but had an even bigger effect on the players here. Especially Montero.
"I hate to say this, but I think Monty’s getting a little bored in the minor leagues, he’s ready for that next challenge,” Wynegar said. “I told Brian Cashman I think he needs that next challenge, and I hope he gets it next month.
“But these two days, Alex has challenged him to get better,” Wynegar said, “and he’s learning from watching Alex work. This has been a good boost for him.”
Wynegar said that he had recommended to Cashman, and is hoping, that Montero gets a call-up soon.
“Monty’s one of the best. He thinks hitting is easy, so natural doesn’t work as hard on it as I would like to see him work on it,” Wynegar said. “I think we need to push him now. See what he can do, I am big on him getting called up in September.”
Rodriguez's tenure as a tutor was over after he was pulled from the game in the eighth inning Wednesday night and headed for Minnesota, but he told Montero he'd like to reconnect.
"We talked about hopefully getting together this winter in Miami, working out with Kevin Long and Butch and whoever wants to come down to Miaimi and have a little bit of a winter hitting camp," Rodriguez said. "Obviously he's a guy we expect big things from and what saw tonight and the past few nights, he's not going to disappoint."
August 18, 2011 3:14 AM
A-Rod plays mentor to Montero
BY Kristie Ackert
Jesus Montero has two guys pushing for him to get a September call-up, including Alex Rodriguez.
"The way he has caught the last two nights, he's obviously good enough to catch in the majors," Rodriguez said. "He played with a lot of intensity. He's got all the tools."
A-Rod took his two days in Scranton with the Triple-A Yankees as an opportunity to mentor the Yankees' top hitting prospect. He took him into the indoor batting cage Wednesday afternoon and worked with him on his swing, his approach and about making the next step for about 20 minutes.
"We came in here and had a good session, talked a little bit about the mental side of hitting, the little bit about the mechanics," Rodriguez said.
Then A-Rod switched his batting practice group to hit with Montero , talking to him about hitting in between sessions. Triple-A hitting coach Butch Wynegar, who worked with Rodriguez in Texas, noticed the work the slugger did with Montero.
“He has been great with all the guys, but really taken Monty under his wing,” Wynegar said. “He is trying to show him the work it takes at the major league level. And Monty is just absorbing it all.”
Wynegar said that the brief visit has helped A-Rod get back in shape, but had an even bigger effect on the players here. Especially Montero.
"I hate to say this, but I think Monty’s getting a little bored in the minor leagues, he’s ready for that next challenge,” Wynegar said. “I told Brian Cashman I think he needs that next challenge, and I hope he gets it next month.
“But these two days, Alex has challenged him to get better,” Wynegar said, “and he’s learning from watching Alex work. This has been a good boost for him.”
Wynegar said that he had recommended to Cashman, and is hoping, that Montero gets a call-up soon.
“Monty’s one of the best. He thinks hitting is easy, so natural doesn’t work as hard on it as I would like to see him work on it,” Wynegar said. “I think we need to push him now. See what he can do, I am big on him getting called up in September.”
Rodriguez's tenure as a tutor was over after he was pulled from the game in the eighth inning Wednesday night and headed for Minnesota, but he told Montero he'd like to reconnect.
"We talked about hopefully getting together this winter in Miami, working out with Kevin Long and Butch and whoever wants to come down to Miaimi and have a little bit of a winter hitting camp," Rodriguez said. "Obviously he's a guy we expect big things from and what saw tonight and the past few nights, he's not going to disappoint."
