Montoyo had a good feeling about Jays

TORONTO Before landing the manager’s job with the Toronto Blue Jays, Charlie Montoyo had little time to prepare for the interview process.

He went to a downtown restaurant with general manager Ross Atkins and team president Mark Shapiro just two days after they first reached out to him.

“It was supposed to be an hour-(long) dinner,” Montoyo said. “It took forever because the waiter took forever. So that worked out for me. I cannot wait to see that waiter so I can tip him even more because it was awesome — I got to know these guys more.

“My thought when that dinner was over was, ‘It would be great to work for these two guys.”’

Atkins and Shapiro were also impressed. Montoyo flew home late Wednesday and got the good news the next day.

He was the team’s choice to become the 13th manager in franchise history.

“I would say excitement would be putting it lightly,” Atkins said after formally introducing Montoyo on Monday at Rogers Centre. “I’m elated. I think when it started to become clear to me that he was the right choice, and to the point of him agreeing to the terms, I was absolutely elated and that has only continued to grow as I have gotten to know him more.”

Montoyo spent last season as a bench coach with the Tampa Bay Rays. He managed teams at every classification in the Rays’ system, including seven years at the helm of the triple-A Durham Bulls.

His three-year deal with Toronto runs through 2021 and includes a team option for 2022.

Montoyo succeeds John Gibbons with the Blue Jays.