Robert Patrick “Coco” Montes made his major league debut this season with the Colorado Rockies. The once heralded prospect hit a miniscule .184 with a homerun and three runs batted in for the team from “The Centennial State” in 18 games.
This winter he decided to play in the most talented league in the Caribbean, the LIDOM and has been a bright spot for the Águilas Cibaeñas in a dismal season. In 25 games with the legendary Dominican club he is batting .326 with two longballs and 10 RBIs.
Montes looks to take this momentum from his great showing in the DR and parlay it into a spot on the major league roster with the Rockies this upcoming season. Below is the transcript of an interview conducted by Arlenis Peña of the native of Miami, Fla.
— Arlenis J. Peña (@ARLENISJ) December 21, 2023
This your first incursion in the Dominican League, how has the experience been so far?
Very good. The competition is very tough and it is a tremendous opportunity for me to improve my game and come here and gain experience from big games. The fans are very passionate here, I like playing here.
How important has it been to have Tony Peña as manager?
Tony is a great manager, I like him. He always has his emotions ready depending on the situation. He doesn’t get too high or too low, he is always calm. But when he needs to push us, he does it.
Being Cuban and having been here for a while, what isolated phrases or words have you learned here?
There are many words that have stuck to me from so many years playing minor leagues with Dominicans, but one that I always heard strangely and came to know this year is rulay.
Besides that, has any other word impacted you here?
“Cuarto”, which you call money, but for us Cubans, a cuarto is a room. The same thing happened to Néstor Cortés, as he told me. Yes, and Ariel too.
Finally, any greetings to those Águilas fans?
Continue with that passion, we are going to play hard to enter the Round Robin. Let the flight continue.