Colorado Rockies set to lengthen bench by adding Elehuris Montero

Thanks to a mandate for all MLB teams on roster sizes and compositions, for the first time this season, the Colorado Rockies will enter into a game with just 13 pitchers on its active roster. By reducing the active roster by one pitcher, according to an article by Thomas Harding of MLB.com, the Rockies will recall Elehuris Montero to be its 13th position player and fill out the 26-man roster.

Monday’s deadline established by MLB to bring the number of active pitchers down to 13 meant that the Colorado Rockies had room to bring the 23-year-old Montero onto the active roster for the third time this season. In his two previous stints, Montero has received 13 at-bats over the course of four games, getting two hits and striking out five times.

What will the Colorado Rockies do with Elehuris Montero during this call-up?

Montero made his MLB debut on May 1 against the Cincinnati Reds and went 2-for-4 as the team’s designated hitter. Since then, he has gone 0-for-9 while drawing one start as the team’s third baseman and also serving as the DH and a pinch hitter.

While Montero has seen action at first base in 16 Triple-A games this season, he would likely see time on the field with the Rockies at third base. It is conceivable that the Rockies could do what they did against the San Francisco Giants when a left-hander was on the mound and play the right-handed-hitting Montero over the left-handed-hitting Ryan McMahon at third base.

In 208 Triple-A at-bats this season, Montero has put together a slash line of .327/.395/.563 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI. With the Rockies tied for 20th in MLB in home runs with 62 on the season, having Montero in the lineup as a power threat is a positive for the team as they embark on a six-game road trip through Miami and Minnesota.

Look for Colorado to make another roster move involving its bench later this week as Kris Bryant is expected to come off the injured list to take part in the weekend’s series against the Twins.