Montero ready for challenge of full-time catching

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SEATTLE (AP) - Jesus Montero is ready for the challenge of being an everyday catcher for the Seattle Mariners.

That would be quite a job for a veteran catcher to take on, let alone a 23-year-old about to enter his second full season in the majors.

As it stands now, Montero is the only sure thing the Mariners have behind the plate heading into spring training, which starts in just over two weeks. He's the only catcher on Seattle's 40-man roster. While there is help on the way in the future in the form of last year's first-round pick Mike Zunino, the 2013 season is going to fall mostly on Montero's shoulders.

Is it a risk for Seattle to rely so heavily on Montero? Maybe, especially since he only caught 56 games last season for Seattle.