The Mariners’ 7-6 loss to the Athletics on Friday was already a gut punch, but it got a whole lot worse when exciting rookie Lazaro Montes had to leave the game in the fifth inning. He crashed hard into the right field wall while chasing down a fly ball, and honestly, the Emerald City just held its breath.
A Collision That Stung
It all went down in the fifth. Zack Gelof of the Athletics smacked a ball that looked like it was heading for the right field seats, and Montes, being the grinder he is, was running full speed to chase it down. He collided with the wall hard, went down, and managed to flip the ball back to Julio Rodríguez in center field before he was just writhing in pain on the ground. Seriously, it felt like forever before Julio and the training staff got to him. After a quick look, Montes, tough as nails, actually stayed in for two more hitters and even made a play on a hard-hit line drive right in front of him. You could tell he was trying to push through it.
The Hip Soreness And The Good News (Sort Of)
But during a pitching change, the trainers were back out there checking on Montes, and this time, Dan Wilson joined them. It was clear the tough guy act couldn’t last. Wilson said Montes “felt good enough to stay in there” initially, but then “on the play he came in on the ball he kinda felt it.” He added that when Montes “came in and charged, I think he felt it a little bit more than he thought,” so it was “a good time to get him out of there.” The team later confirmed Montes left the game with left hip soreness, and yeah, you could see a mild limp as he walked off the field. The big relief? X-rays were negative! Still, Wilson’s being cautious, saying, “We’ll see how he is in the morning and see if anything else is further needed at this point.”
What’s Next For The Outfield?
So, if Montes is forced to miss any time, who steps up? The obvious name being tossed around is hot-hitting prospect Michael Arroyo. Problem is, the Tacoma Rainiers are away in Albuquerque this week, so getting him to T-Mobile Park immediately isn’t exactly easy. Arroyo actually had a decent night against the Isotopes, with two hits, including a triple, and a sacrifice fly, even though the Rainiers lost 11-6. But for our Mariners, it means we might be waiting a bit for that call-up.
This is a bummer, Seattle. We’ll be holding our breath waiting for an update on Montes in the morning. Let’s hope for the best, because we need that young talent out there.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Lookout Landing.
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