Lazaro Montes, the Mariners’ promising outfield prospect, is officially getting the call! Our guy is set to join the team in Boston this Tuesday when rosters expand. This 21-year-old is coming up as the No. 56 prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, and believe me, we need to talk about what he brings to T-Mobile Park.
The Power Numbers Are Absolutely Bonkers
This dude has been mashing! Montes is sitting second in the entire minor leagues with a mind-blowing 38 home runs this season. Yeah, you read that right: thirty-eight. He is hitting .249 overall, which, when you look at that homer total, tells you exactly what kind of hitter he is: all-or-nothing power. We’re talking about a guy who crushes the ball, evidenced by his 94.7 mph average exit velocity and a 57% hard-hit rate. If he can bring those kinds of numbers to the show, they’d be absolutely elite among major league hitters. For anyone in a Roto league desperate for power, Montes is looking like a fine addition.
Can He Handle the Emerald City Pressure?
Now, let’s keep it real. While the upside is absolutely off the charts, there’s a flip side to this power-hitting coin. Montes carries a 31% strikeout rate, which is definitely something to watch. The good news is that rate actually held steady as he jumped from Double-A to Triple-A, so he hasn’t been overwhelmed by the higher competition just yet. However, there’s a real risk here: T-Mobile Park is notorious for suppressing homers and increasing strikeouts. Those home park issues could potentially exacerbate Montes’ challenges, and there is a real chance he could be overwhelmed. We saw a range of outcomes with Esmerlyn Valdez, who was a power hitter for a month and then got largely overwhelmed. Montes has to keep that strikeout rate manageable if he wants to make a real impact for the season’s final month. He might not be a points league must-add, but his power is undeniable.
So, get ready to keep an eye on Montes this Tuesday in Boston. We’ll be watching to see if his elite power can translate and if he can find a way to manage that strikeout rate, especially with our home park’s unique challenges. The final month of the season is here, and with roster expansion, every at-bat counts!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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