The Seattle Mariners are pushing all their chips to the middle of the table, calling up 21-year-old slugger Lazaro Montes right when our flagging chance at a playoff spot for a September run needs a jolt. This 6-foot-5 Cuban powerhouse is expected to join the squad for their three-game series opener in Boston on Tuesday. The M’s need him to keep that power display going, but this time, in a Seattle uniform.
Montes’ Bat, Our Hope, and the Boston Series
Montes has been absolutely crushing it in the minors this year, racking up an incredible 38 home runs. Ten of those bombs came in August alone, showing he’s peaking at the right time. He started the year at Double-A Arkansas before getting bumped to Triple-A Tacoma on July 7, where his batting average jumped 40 points, from .234 to .274. Manager Dan Wilson has a big decision on his hands: whether to play the left-handed Montes immediately at Fenway Park, a stadium that traditionally favors right-handed hitters. Boston’s rotation includes left-hander Peyton Tolle on Tuesday, ace right-hander Sonny Gray on Wednesday, and lefty Pablo Sandoval on Thursday. Montes has struggled against southpaws this year, batting .201 with six homers. But against right-handers? He’s a monster, hitting .274 with 32 homers. We’ll see how Wilson plays the matchups.
The Big Swing Seattle’s Been Waiting For
Montes is more than just raw power; he’s got the pedigree to back it up. The Mariners dropped $2.5 million to sign him at age 17 back in January of 2022. He trained with Aldo Marrero, the same hitting instructor who helped develop Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez, who’s on track for a Triple Crown this year leading the AL in batting (.317), homers (37), and RBI (93). Montes reportedly shares Alvarez’s bat speed and launch angle. Ranked the No. 8 international prospect at the time, he’s the first player from the 2022 international signing class to get promoted to MLB. He’s hit 114 homers in 497 minor league games overall, though he has struck out 613 times. Manager Wilson highlighted Montes’ contagious energy, telling The Associated Press that, “He loves the game. He loves being around the game… And that’s the type of attitude that’s pretty contagious.” That upbeat quality might be just the spark our talent-laden veteran lineup needs after a summer of struggles. With Luke Raley out for the season after elbow surgery and Dominic Canzone playing more DH, Montes’ strong arm and spectacular play potential in right field are crucial, even if his overall defense isn’t stellar. Victor Robles remains our best defender out there, platooning with Canzone.
Our Emerald City crew heads into Boston for a huge three-game series starting Tuesday. The stakes couldn’t be higher as we push for a playoff spot. Can Montes provide the power surge we desperately need? It all starts now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply