Catcher Luke Montz called up from Triple-A Columbus
When catcher Jesus Flores left Tuesday night's game with a sprained ankle, after a collision with Philadelphia's Chase Utley in the third inning, Washington was left with Wil Nieves as the only catcher on the roster.
After the game, the Nationals called up catcher Luke Montz from Triple-A Columbus to fill the void left by Flores. Montz is expected to join the team and be in uniform Wednesday night.
Montz, who split time between Columbus and Double-A Harrisburg, batted .271 with 22 doubles, one triple, 16 home runs and 71 RBI in 111 games this season. He began the season at Harrisburg, where he hit .282 with a .368 on-base percentage and led all Eastern League catchers with 14 homers, 53 RBI, 28 extra-base hits and a .554 slugging percentage when he was promoted to Triple-A on June 30. In 48 games with Columbus, Montz hit .256 with eight doubles, one triple, two home runs and 18 RBI.
The 25-year-old threw out 36-of-97, 37 percent, attempted base stealers overall this season, including 23-of-54, 43 percent, while playing with Harrisburg. He was selected by the Nationals in the 17th round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft out of Hill Junior College in Texas.
Montz, who was driving, with his father, from Columbus, Ohio to his home town of Lafayette, Louisiana, when they encountered Hurricane Gustav. Montz wasn't home very long when his phone rang. I'll let him explain the rest of the story.
Audio: Luke Montz discusses being called up to the Nationals
Leave a comment