Mister Baseball

After a non-optimal start HCAW MR COCKER lost their patience with starting pitcher Adam Sowell and replaced him with the Venezuelan Oscar Montero.

Montero was born on May 9th 1978 in Caracas, Venezuela. The righthander signed with the MILWAUKEE BREWERS as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He stayed there for two years at the Rookie level and signed later with the CHICAGO CUBS and the SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS organizations, receiving an invitation to Major League spring training with the latter. He also played for Independent League clubs of the Northern League and the American Association.

During ten seasons of Minor and Independent League ball he had a record of 30-35 in 291 games (21 starts). Montero had a combined ERA of 4.43 with 528 strikeouts (278 walks) in 475.2 innings pitched. In 2007 he played for PENSACOLA of the American Association. He posted a 1-2 record with one save and an ERA of 3.72 in 36.1 innings pitched, striking out 55 (20 walks).

He is supposed to replace Sowell in the pitching staff of HCAW. Montero made his debut last Sunday, pitching two innings (1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 SO) in a loss to KONICA MINOLTA PIONIERS.

Sowell, who joined the club during the offseason after a MVP campaign in the Swedish Baseball League in 2007, had his share of problems to adjust to the better competition in the Dutch Major League. In two starts this season he had a 1-1 record with an ERA of 7.56. He struck out five and walked three in 8.1 innings pitched.