ST. LOUIS -- Standing on the Busch Stadium field in mid-August, Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. had just spent several minutes evaluating the job of new manager Mike Shildt when the conversation took an unexpected tangent. He wanted to talk about Elehuris Montero.
The 20-year-old prospect had just become the first Peoria player to win Midwest League MVP honors since Albert Pujols in 2000, and DeWitt was among those most interested and impressed by the third baseman's standout season.
The recognition continues for Montero, who has also been chosen by the MLB Pipeline staff as the Cardinals' Hitting Prospect of the Year.