Montero growing with the bat and the glove this spring

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Rockies' Elehuris Montero leaped to snare Josh Naylor's high chopper near first base and started a slick 3-6-3 double play during the first inning of Thursday's 13-7 loss to the Guardians.

He added a sprinting, foul territory, over-the-head catch on Ramón Laureano's looping fly in the third.

Montero led off the second by taking a painful pitch from Logan Allen off his right foot. As he learned during two seasons of trips between the Rockies and Triple-A Albuquerque, a player must contribute -- even if it hurts -- when he isn't swinging well.

After finishing last season strong over the final weeks and homering three times in his first nine Cactus League games this year, Montero entered Thursday's contest in a 0-for-15 slump with eight strikeouts, but he went 2-for-3.

The Rockies believe Montero has matured regarding his idea of the strike zone. With that, he can unlock the power he showed throughout the Minors. However, they also know about his big swing and tendency to chase breaking balls outside the zone.

But Montero, 25, is out of Minor League options, so they need him to be effective with the bat -- and be usable during slumps. While potential with the bat is why he'll be on the Opening Day roster for the second straight year, Montero needs to be usable defensively. The Rockies plan on him stepping in at first base while Kris Bryant goes to right field, which likely means Charlie Blackmon goes from right to DH.

The wild card is Sean Bouchard, an outfielder whose patience at the plate could earn him starts. If Bouchard is hot, Montero could become a bench player if he isn't contributing enough on either side to justify starts.

Montero transitioned to first after an ill-fated defensive beginning last season as the third baseman after spending time in Albuquerque. He wasn't expected to morph immediately into a Gold Glove candidate, and he didn't, in the Minors. But he returned competent with the glove, something he's been building on this spring.

"The hands work," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "The nuances of the position, he has that under control -- the positioning, where he needs to be on cutoffs and relays, where he needs to be on bunt plays. Now what he needs to work on is what every player needs to work on -- continue to refine your skills and get better. That never stops."

Overall, defense is the Rockies' greatest strength. But unless the roster has room for switch-hitting Michael Toglia, who has been touted as a plus (above Major League average) defender at the position, the Rockies are trusting the position to Bryant and Montero, who transferred from other positions.

Toglia was out for the second straight day because of stiffness on the right side of his neck.

• Peter Lambert, competing with Ryan Feltner and Dakota Hudson for two rotation spots (with the odd man headed to the bullpen), pitched 3 1/3 innings and gave up five runs on seven hits, including a Will Brennan second-inning home run.

"When you're looking at a Spring Training outing, you're looking at a couple things," Lambert said. "Obviously the line wasn't great, but I got the workload up, felt decent overall so felt happy with it."

Manager Bud Black said, "It just comes down to location of the fastball. … If you dissect every pitch, I'm sure there are some pitches Peter would like to get back as far as location, but overall, the way his stuff came out of his hand at this time of year was pretty solid."

• Infielder Alan Trejo, hoping to rise from non-roster status to the utility infield job, knocked a three-run homer in the fifth off Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, who had not given up a run this spring. It was the type of at-bat -- off a difficult reliever -- that Trejo could have off the bench.

• Lefty Evan Justice, who also entered without a run against him in his bid to make the bullpen, replaced Lambert and gave up four runs on three hits, including a David Fry two-run homer, in two-thirds of an inning.

• Former Pirates, Mets and Marlins reliever Geoff Hartlieb, who missed time earlier this spring with back soreness, continued a recent surge with an escape job in his inning. After yielding two one-out singles, Hartlieb forced a Daniel Schneemann double-play grounder.

Hartlieb and fellow right-handers Matt Carasiti, John Curtis and Matt Koch, and lefty Ty Blach are non-roster invitees with Major League experience trying to make the Opening Day roster.

• Righty Victor Vodnik, who came in a trade last season, gave up consecutive homers in the eighth and has yielded four round-trippers this spring.