4 Cubs first-round draft picks you might have forgotten about

Forgotten Cubs first-rounders: Luis Montanez – third overall in 2000

Outfielder Luis Montañez was taken out of Coral Park HS in Miami, Florida third overall in the 2000 draft. This was the same draft the Marlins took Adrian Gonzalez first overall, and also saw notable players like Adam Wainwright, Chase Utley and Rocco Baldelli go after Montañez.

His story with the Cubs is interesting because he did play at the MLB level with them but not until 2011. Montañez played in the Cubs farm from 2000-2006, not getting to Triple-A until 06′. He had some pretty solid seasons in the minors but just never made it up the totem pole. It was in 2007 when he signed a deal with the Baltimore Orioles organization where he would finally break through the following year.

From 2008-2010 he hit .223/.257/.323 with four home runs and a .579 OPS in 93 games. It was 2011 at the age of 29 when he re-signed with the team that drafted him. He appeared in 36 games with the Cubs that season and hit .222/.263/.352 with one home run. It was weird for Cubs fans to realize that they were finally watching the player their team took third overall a decade later.

Montañez left via free agency and spent the next several years in the Cardinals, Phillies and Angels organizations but never made it back to The Show. He played professional ball through 2015.