Sep 27, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners first baseman Jesus Montero (63) hits a RBI single against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Orioles have signed catcher/first baseman Jesus Montero to a minor league deal. Montero is in the midst of a 50-game suspension.

The Baltimore Orioles have signed catcher/first baseman Jesus Montero, once one of the hottest prospects in all of baseball, to a minor league deal, per Jon Heyman.

The 27-year-old will open the season in the midst of a 50-game suspension that he received last season as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. The suspension came as the result of a positive drug test for the banned stimulant dimethylbutylamine.

In 2011, both Baseball Prospectus and Baseball America ranked Montero as the number three prospect in all of baseball. His defense was always questionable behind the plate, but his bat was what would send him to the majors.

Generally considered to be a .270-.280, 20+ home run hitter, Montero impressed in limited time with the New York Yankees as a September call-up, batting .328/.406/.590 in just 69 plate appearances.

He was eventually traded to the Seattle Mariners in a deal for pitcher Michael Pineda, and did decently in his rookie campaign, batting .260/.298/.386 with 15 HRs, 46 R, and 62 RBIs. Decent, but certainly not what was advertised.

Since then, he’s spent most of his time middling around in the minor leagues for the Mariners, until he joined the Toronto Blue Jays last season. He’s always hit well in Triple-A, batting .305/.357/.491 during his career at that level, but hasn’t been able to put it together in the majors.

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More than likely, if Montero is going to make it to the majors with the Baltimore Orioles, it will be as little more than a bench bat who can spend some time at first base so that Chris Davis can rest.

That being said, Montero is still only 27 years old, if there is some way that he can rekindle the magic that made him a top-5 prospect early on in his career, he could be one of the best moves the Orioles have made.

Personally, I like the move, Montero has talent, and he’s a very low-risk/high-reward player at this point in his career. If he keeps doing what he’s been doing, no harm done, but if he’s able to turn it around, Dan Duquette all of a sudden looks like a genius. We’ll see what Montero ultimately does.