• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Denver Sports Today

Denver Sports News Continuously Updated

  • Broncos
  • Rockies
  • Nuggets
  • Avalanche
  • Colleges
    • Air Force
    • University of Colorado
    • Colorado State
  • Soccer
    • Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
    • Rapids

Rockies Activate All-Star, Designate Former Top Prospect

July 1, 2024 by Last Word On Baseball

The Colorado Rockies made a couple of intriguing roster moves ahead of Sunday’s series finale against the Chicago White Sox. First, the Rockies activated catcher Elias Díaz from the 10-day injured list. Then, to make room on the active roster, Colorado designated first baseman Elehuris Montero for assignment.

The Colorado Rockies announced the following moves today:

– Reinstated C Elias Díaz from the 10-day injured list.
– Designated INF Elehuris Montero for assignment.

The Rockies’ 40-man roster is at 39.

— Rockies Club Information (@RockiesClubInfo) June 30, 2024

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Díaz missed just under three weeks with a strained left calf and returns with enough time to showcase his health to teams interested in trading for him. In cutting Montero, the Rockies officially give up on a big piece of the infamous Nolan Arenado trade.

Rockies Activate Elias Díaz, Designate Elehuris Montero

Formerly a long-term backup, Díaz broke out last season in his fourth year with the Rockies. In 141 games, he hit .267/.316/.409 with 14 homers and solid strikeout and walk rates. He even earned MVP honors in his first All-Star game.

Elias Diaz is the first catcher in Rockies franchise history to be named an All-Star.

Now he’s the first Rockies player ever to win All-Star MVP ☺

Couldn’t have happened to a better guy. A ray of sunshine in a tough Rockies season. This is awesome! pic.twitter.com/MbsihCDL7g

— Romi Bean (@Romi_Bean) July 12, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

While he regressed in the second half of the season, Díaz once again got off to a blazing start this year. Prior to the injury, the 33-year-old was hitting .303/.352/.439 with five home runs in 216 plate appearances. Paired with solid defense (3 Defensive Runs Saved), Díaz represented a rare bright spot on a disastrous Rockies team.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the Rockies activating Díaz is the impact it will have on the team’s trade deadline strategy. Many evaluators view Díaz as a piece Colorado will be willing to sell at the deadline. There likely will be plenty of suitors due to his expiring contract, affordable salary, and solid production.

The Rockies will activate Díaz now and give him a month to regain any trade value he might have lost on the injured list.

Elehuris Montero

Among the five players Colorado acquired for Arenado, Montero might have carried the highest pedigree. He ranked as high as 81st on Baseball America’s top prospect ranking in 2019 due to his offensive profile. The publication wrote that Montero is “a physical, strong hitter with excellent hand-eye coordination, bat speed and plus raw power.”

Elehuris Montero could be a nice stash player for a team needy of depth. He’s really made some strong improvements since 2023.

81% zContact —> 86.8% zContact
40.4% ozContact —> 45.6% ozContact
44.9% GB Rate —> 37.4% GB Rate
36.2% K Rate —> 22.7% K Rate

Only 25 years young. pic.twitter.com/vuxfAQghPQ

— Pat (@PatSullivan05) June 30, 2024

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

This seemed like a great candidate to replace the prolific production that Arenado constantly provided the Rockies. Unfortunately, Montero’s development stalled as he struggled in the minors following the trade. Furthermore, his struggles followed him to the majors.

Montero made his debut in 2022 and appeared in a total of 204 games. In 738 plate appearances, he hit just .228/.278/.388 (76 OPS+) with a massive 30.6 percent strikeout rate. With other players establishing themselves this season and jumping over Montero on the corner infield and DH depth chart, the Rockies ultimately decided to move on.

Unfortunately for the organization, Montero’s legacy will be another loss for the infamously bad, possibly non-existent, player development system.

 

Photo Credit: © Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The post Rockies Activate All-Star, Designate Former Top Prospect appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

Filed Under: Rockies

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Switchbacks FC Extends Brennan Creek’s Contract for the Remainder of the 2025 Season
  • Rafael Navarro Beats out League Leaders for Player of the Matchday Honor
  • Italy’s Elder Statesman Talks Nat’l Team Retirement, NBA Return
  • Alex Gagne (D) from Univ. of New Hampshire to Colorado Avalanche
  • Can the Rockies keep their momentum going into the Dodgers series?

Categories

Archives

Our Partners

All Sports

  • The Denver Post
  • 247 Sports
  • Bleacher Report
  • DNVR
  • Forgotten 5
  • Mile High Maniac
  • Mile High Sports
  • OurSports Central
  • The Sports Fan Journal
  • The Spun
  • USA Today

Baseball

  • MLB.com
  • Last Word On Baseball
  • MLB Trade Rumors
  • Purple Row
  • Rox Pile

Basketball

  • NBA.com
  • Amico Hoops
  • Denver Stiffs
  • Hoops Hype
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Last Word On Pro Basketball
  • Nugg Love
  • Real GM
  • Pro Basketball Talk

Football

  • Denver Broncos
  • Broncos Wire
  • Last Word On Pro Football
  • Mile High Report
  • NFL Trade Rumors
  • Our Turf Football
  • Predominantly Orange
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Football Talk
  • Total Broncos

Hockey

  • Elite Prospects
  • Last Word On Hockey
  • Mile High Sticking
  • Mile High Hockey
  • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Talk
  • The Hockey Writers

Soccer

  • Burgundy Wave
  • Last Word on Soccer
  • MLS Multiplex

College

  • Busting Brackets
  • College Football News
  • College Sports Madness
  • Ralphie Report
  • Saturday Blitz
  • Zags Blog

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in