Jesus Montero is a young major league catcher who spends much of his offseason in Valencia, Valenzuela.
So when Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos was kidnapped at gunpoint outside his home in Valencia on Wednesday, it made a powerful impact on the Yankees’ prospect.
“He’s my friend, and I feel sad,” said Montero, who learned of Ramos’ release on Friday after speaking with Ramos’ mother. “I’ve known him a long time and I was truly worried. When I saw the news, I was crying a little bit … Thank God he was OK.”
Ramos was returned to his family unharmed on Friday, despite being surrounded by gunfire when police commandos rescued him and arrested four alleged abductors.
The kidnapping was a striking reminder of the dangers major league players often face when they go to Latin America, either to spend time at home or play winter ball.
“It teaches me things,” said Montero, who lives about 10 minutes away from Ramos. “You’ve got to be careful where you go or where you are. Venezuela is not easy. You’ve got to know where you’re at and you’ll be good.”
But what happened to Ramos is evidence that even staying close to home does not guarantee safety. Montero still intends to spend about a month in his native country before heading to Miami in January to work out with Alex Rodriguez and hitting coach Kevin Long at Rodriguez’s home.
Montero doesn’t plan on changing how he lives in Venezuela, but admits he’s going to be on edge. And he knows other players might think twice before playing there.
“It’s not easy for people that are from [the United States] that go there,” said Montero, who was signing autographs at a Last Licks ice cream store in Scarsdale yesterday. “Now they know all that [happened] and they know Venezuela is not easy because of the [Ramos] situation. But what can I say? Now they think, ‘I don’t want to go there, it’s scary.’ I’m from there and I’m scared.”
He doesn’t intend to hire security, but Montero said he spends most of his time at home with his family.
The 21-year-old is also trying to focus on baseball this winter, because he has a chance of becoming a key member of the Yankees next season.
Though general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi aren’t ready to officially call an end to the Jorge Posada era in The Bronx, Posada said a return to the Yankees is “not going to happen.”
The loss of Posada, who Montero credited with helping him during spring training, as well as during their brief time in the majors together, should leave a spot for Montero as a DH and backup catcher. Montero still must prove he can handle it.
“He’s a work in progress,” Girardi said Friday of Montero’s defense. “I think he can provide some offense … there’s going to be some growing pains. He needs to catch.”
Montero likes the idea of management giving him the chance at an increased role.
“It gives me a little confidence, for sure,” Montero said. “I’ve got to work harder now to be on the team.”
That includes working with a trainer to lose “a little fat and get more muscles to be prepared for next year,” since he is aware he could back up Russell Martin.
“I’m not saying, ‘Yes, I’m going to catch,’ because I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Montero said. “I have to be ready for spring training and show them what I can do.”