Montero savors opportunity of a lifetime

Miguel Montero was one of the final additions to the All-Star lineup, but that doesn’t mean his experience is any less enjoyable.

In fact, the Diamondbacks catcher had the opportunity to catch the ceremonial first pitch in Monday’s Home Run Derby, a ball that was thrown by Hall of Famer and MLB Ironman Cal Ripken Jr.

“It’s cool, it’s something I’m going to remember the rest of my life,” Montero said of the experience.

Granted, the pitch was not without a little bit of confusion.

“He threw the first pitch and he goes ‘What am I going to do with this ball,'” Montero said of Ripken.

Montero said Ripken told him he should keep the ball.

“I’m like ‘me, yeah, I’ll keep it,'” he said. “But you’ve got to sign it for me.”

Montero will, along with a signed baseball, always have the memory of catching that pitch.

Arizona Sports’ Craig Grialou contributed to this report

Follow @theAdamGreen