Rafael Perez, Ismael Cruz, and Gerardo Cabrera of the New York Mets scouts signed Montero in January 2011.
He saw time with the GCL Mets (1-2, Sv, 1.45), Kingsport Mets (2-1, 4.24) and Brooklyn Cyclones (2-1, 4.24) in the Mets system during the season (1-0, 3.60).
It was an uneventful season for him as he pitched for the Savannah Sand Gnats (6-3) and St. Lucie Mets (5-2) with a combined record of 110-112.
He finished behind Gonzalez Germen and Zack Wheeler in the Mets’ victory total and behind Tyler Pill in the team’s ERA. He was selected the Minor League Pitcher of the Year by the Mets organization.
Rafael had a strong start to the year with the Binghamton Mets, going 7-3 with a 2.43 era, 72 strikeouts, and a.92 WHIP in 66 2/3 innings of work.
When he took the mound against fellow Mets prospect Noah Syndergaard in the 2013 Futures Game for the World squad, he looked sharp.
Billy Hamilton, Delino DeShields Jr., and George Springer were all retired by him in a 1-2-3 frame. In the second inning, Montero was relieved by Enny Romero.
For Las Vegas, he had a 3.05 earned run average while going 5-4. He walked 35 times and struck out 150 in 155 1/3 innings.
He finished behind only Gabriel Ynoa in wins, strikeouts, and ERA, but he was ahead of Logan Verrett in all three categories.
Aside from being the Mets’ #3 prospect (after Noah Syndergaard and Travis d’Arnaud), he also ranked 13th overall in the Eastern League, 18th in the Pacific Coast League (behind Tyler Skaggs and Jonathan Villar), and 68th overall in all of baseball, according to Baseball America. Las Vegas (4-1, 3.67, 41 K in 41 2/3 innings) was where he started the year.
How Tall Is Rafael Montero?
Rafael Montero’s height is 1.83 m.