PORTLAND, Maine – Outfielder and Rockies No. 13 prospect Benny Montgomery's road has been difficult and injury-strewn since the Rockies drafted him eighth overall in 2021.
But Montgomery has determined one step toward finding the right path – unfollowing himself. Besides, he's been hit below the belt by more than just social media.
“After the Draft, you're on top of the world,” Montgomery said before taking the field for Double-A Hartford in a game at Portland before the All-Star break. “You're on Twitter, searching your name, looking at everything. You see everything.
“Now, I haven't looked it up in a year. I know there's nothing good there right now. I don't need to look through. I'm focused on me. I don't really care what anybody else has to say. Just trying to be the best version of myself I can be.”
Rockies first-round picks are never far from Coors Field. Jordan Beck (38th overall in 2023) started the Rockies’ 6-2 loss to the Cardinals Monday night in left field. Righty pitcher Chase Dollander (ninth in ‘23), outfielder Zac Veen (ninth in ‘20) catcher Drew Romo (35th in ‘20) have been up and are back in Triple-A. Romo debuted last year.
First baseman Charlie Condon, third overall last year, is finding his swing at Hartford (scroll down). The latest – infielder Ethan Holliday, son of club legend Matt Holliday and the No. 4 overall pick this year – is the star of Purple Pinstriped dreams.
Meanwhile, Montgomery takes his lumps in Double-A.
Having swung between potential and injury throughout his pro career after being drafted from Red Land High School in Harrisburg, Pa., Montgomery, 22, is having to overcome a literal low blow.
A groin injury in 2022 at Single-A Fresno and a knee-to-knee collision in the outfield with then and current teammate Juan Guerrero at High-A Spokane in 2023 came at times when he was making progress.
Montgomery filled the box scores in 19 games in the 2023 Arizona Fall League (.333/.436/.500, 3 HR, 14 RBIs, 10 steals), and seemed destined to carry that over at Hartford. But after beginning last season batting .283 with two homers and 10 RBIs, he sustained a season-ending, surgery-requiring injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder in his 11th game.
Then came this year.
Montgomery arrived at Spring Training at 6-foot-4 1/2 and 230 pounds and with his speed still elite. He started the regular season slowly. On May 28, Montgomery was trying to beat out a possible double play when New Hampshire shortstop Eddinson Paulino's throw hit him in a most painful place. He didn't play for 16 days.
“I got hit there and there have obviously been complications from that,” Montgomery said. “I haven't really been able to hit my stride.
“It's been more difficult than I thought it was going to be. I've had a couple injuries – one freak injury – but I've felt really good recently.”
Little did Montgomery know before he joined Hartford that his manager, Bobby Meacham, could identify with his plight.
In 1981, Meacham was selected exactly as Montgomery – eighth overall – by the Cardinals. After two Minor League seasons, the Yankees acquired him.
No Twitter then. But newspapers were competitive, with more reporters than today – especially in New York. Critics were in the clubhouse and in your face the next day, rather than being a profile pic of unknown credentials followed by 280-300 characters. Headlines blared morning and evening from newspaper racks at a public that didn't need to scroll. Even the localities with Minor League teams devoted beat writers.
Meacham hit .182 his first year of pro ball, and committed 47 errors at shortstop in 111 games in 1982. By 1983 he was facing the Yankees owner George Steinbrenner’s evaluating eyes and sharply critical words that he loved sharing with media.
“I told him, ‘I was you,’” Meacham said. “I knew they were looking at me saying, ‘This guy's a disappointment. Why did we pick this guy?’ It never changes.”
However …
“June of 1983, I was in the big leagues,” Meacham said. “What happens is things click.
“If you're not confident that you're doing your best to be your best, then you've got to worry. If you think that way, you're always going to be second-guessing yourself. And when you think about other people, you've got no chance. God's blessed you with all the talent you have. Get the most out of it, and all the decisions everybody makes around that is not your problem.”
The decision will come after this season whether to protect Montgomery on the 40-man Major League roster, but teams rarely turn their backs on such high picks – especially one with Montgomery's rare size-speed combination. As Meacham told him, “If the Colorado Rockies didn't pick you eighth, somebody would've picked you ninth.”
Montgomery said leaning on Meacham's knowledge is “really cool,” even though Meacham felt of little use in regard to this year's injury.
“Wear a cup? I don't know … he's an outfielder so getting hit like that is rare,” Meacham said.
Montgomery's health is improving to the point he can soon be used defensively. A 3-for-4 performance with an RBI in a 6-5 victory over Somerset on Saturday landed him at .206 with three homers and 25 RBIs. Being in the Eastern League means his family and friends can offer off-field companionship in various cities. Now he needs to produce.
“I have to play catch-up again,” he said. “It's going slower than I thought it would. But I am getting my timing back and making sure I do the right things every day.”