Charlie Montoyo’s journey from ESL classes to Toronto

LAS VEGAS – Charlie Montoyo vividly remembers the dread he felt when he first left his native Puerto Rico for the contiguous United States as a teenager in the mid-1980s. It’s a fear most Latino major leaguers have felt, whether they’re American citizens from the Isla del Encanto or immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Panama or Mexico.

The man who is primed to use his superb bilingual skills to help communicate with his diverse, young roster in Toronto didn’t speak a word of English when he arrived in Cupertino, Calif., to enroll at De Anza Junior College as a freshman.

You couldn’t tell by the way the Toronto Blue Jays’ rookie manager handled his first session with the national media Tuesday at the Baseball Winter Meetings, but Montoyo suffered through his early days in Northern California before eventually transferring to Louisiana Tech.

“That was really tough,” Montoyo said. “Leaving Puerto Rico for the first time and not speaking the language and not only leaving Puerto Rico but going all the way to California, where I went to junior college for a year at De Anza College, I had to take [English as a Second Language] classes so I could learn the language.

“I was lucky that they got me living with an American family who spoke no Spanish. I had to learn just by being around. That helped me a lot.”

Montoyo, one of four Latino managers and three with Puerto Rican roots in the majors, has come a long way from those ESL classes at De Anza College.

Parental Support

Few people understand the sacrifices and work Montoyo has put in over the last three decades quite like his parents, Felix and Anidia.

Felix Montoyo passed his love of baseball along to his son José Carlos (Charlie) early on. The young Montoyo was only four years old when his dad bought him his first glove and a net so that he could pitch.

Montoyo’s baseball aspirations grew along with him, taking him out of Puerto Rico. He eventually reached the majors in 1993 for a brief cameo. He collected three RBIs, a double and a single over five plate appearances spread over four games with the Montreal Expos.

Now 53, Montoyo has made his biggest contributions as a minor-league manager and major league coach with the Tampa Bay Rays. He managed in the Rays’ system for 18 years before he was promoted to the big-league staff in 2015.

He served as the Rays’ third base coach for his first two years on the big league staff and then as bench coach the last two of his four-year stint.

Puerto Rican Pride

As fellow Boricuan Álex Cora was leading the Red Sox to a World Series title in his first year as manager, he found time to call Montoyo to congratulate him after the Blue Jays hired him in late October.

“He was busy but he did call,” Montoyo said of Cora.

“During the World Series [Cora] called (and said) that he was proud of me. I’m always going to appreciate … that he did that.”

Montoyo jokingly notes that he has picked up a lot more friends since he was named manager. The most memorable moment since his hiring, however, was the call he placed to his aging parents immediately after he landed the job. His father Felix is 83, and his mother Anidia is 73.

“I think the biggest thing was when I got the call when I talked to my parents,” he said. “You know, they’re getting older, so I FaceTimed my dad. He’s 80-something years old.

“And when I told him, that was beautiful for me to tell him, ‘OK, you guys need to sit down because I’ve got to tell you something.’ And that was a great moment.”

Montoyo had interviewed for big league managerial jobs multiple times. He was actually up for the Rays’ job in 2015, so it was quite fair for his father to have skepticism when he interviewed with the Blue Jays.

“My dad is one of those guys (who says) every time I interview, ‘Are they ever going to give you a chance?’ And (Montoyo would reply) ‘If it happens, it happens, Dad,’” he said. “So for that to happen just now and that he’s still here, it was a great time. It was awesome.”

Ready to teach

Considering that Montoyo has spent most of his post-playing career in player development for an organization that is dependent on building through the system, he seems like a perfect fit to now join a Blue Jays organization full of talented, young prospects.

Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., the top-ranked prospect in baseball, is just one of several premier prospects who are close to reaching the majors in Toronto.

“From what I hear, the moment (Guerrero) gets there he could be one of the best players in baseball. So that’s exciting.”

When Guerrero finally gets to Toronto, he’ll be welcomed by a manager able to communicate with him in his native Spanish.

As the son of a Hall of Famer, Guerrero will likely be greeted by lofty expectations. He’s not the Blue Jays’ only son of a Hall of Famer who appears close to the majors. Craig Biggio’s son, Cavan, is another top Blue Jays prospect on the way.

Not surprisingly, though, Guerrero was one of the biggest topics that Montoyo was asked about at the winter meetings.

Montoyo was even asked if he thought his bilingual skills would help him as he tries to usher Guerrero into the majors.

“I think it helps a lot, not so much for me, for (Guerrero), to talk in Spanish to tell me his feelings,” Montoyo said. “I know what it was like. When I first came to the States I spoke no English, so I know that feeling. For him to come and talk in Spanish to me and tell me how he feels, I think that’s going to be great for the kids.”

José Carlos Montoyo has come a long way since those ESL classes in Northern California.

Featured Image: Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images Sport