Jesus Montero, a former Seattle Mariners catcher and onetime top prospect of the New York Yankees, died on Sunday after having been placed in a coma for weeks following a motorcycle accident in his native Venezuela.
Montero had been riding his motorcycle in the city of Valencia when he collided with a pickup truck on Oct. 4.
The 35-year-old former player sustained a punctured lung, six broken ribs, and multiple fractures to his femur, tibia, and fibula, as well as hip and knee injuries, according to El Nacional.
After being rushed to hospital, Montero suffered cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated. He was then put into an induced coma and onto dialysis due to the extent of the damage to his renal system.
Following his death, tributes poured in from his former teams, teammates and ex-wife.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Mariner Jesús Montero. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and loved ones,” the Mariners posted on X.
The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP) shared a post on Instagram about Montero, remembering him as an inspiration to young fans.
”Venezuelan baseball sadly bids farewell to Jesús Montero, who left a legacy of effort and passion for the game,” LVBP wrote in a post.
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“Today, baseball mourns his passing. But it also remembers him with gratitude: for every home run that thrilled fans, for every day he proudly defended his country’s colours, and for every young person who saw in him as an example that dreams can be achieved.”
Fitness influencer and model Taneth Gimenez, Montero’s ex-wife, also posted several Instagram Stories mourning his loss.
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“R.I.P. Jesus Montero” she wrote with a cross emoji while sharing pictures of him with their two children.
“I’ll keep the good memories tattooed on my soul.”
Montero was touted as the Yankees’ No. 1 prospect before his debut in 2011. However, he would play only 18 games for the club before being dealt to Seattle in a blockbuster trade for pitcher Michael Pineda.
Montero played four seasons for the Mariners before leaving MLB to play for teams in Mexico and Venezuela.
During his five-year MLB career, he batted .253, hit 28 home runs, and had 104 RBIs in 226 games.