Prospect Spotlight: Lazaro Montes, OF, Mariners
70-grade power showing up in Double-A; if contact holds, he is an easy fit in the corner OF for the Mariners next year.
| Height / Weight | B/T | Signed | Org Rank | Rule-5 EL | ETA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lazaro Montes | 6′ 5″ / 210 lb | L/R | J-15 2022 — $2.5 M | #4 SEA | Dec 2026 | 2026 |
1. 2025 Snapshot
| AB | AVG | OBP | SLG | HR | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 287 | .272 | .388 | .589 | 21 | .977 |
Promoted to Arkansas (Double-A) on Jun 24; homered in first game.
2. Tools
| Hit | Pwr | Run | Field | Arm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 / 45 | 70 / 70 | 30 | 30 | 50 |
Max EV 115 mph; barrel rate ≈ 20 %.
3. Path to Seattle
- Seattle lacks left-handed corner power after Kelenic trade; Montes could claim RF by late 2026 at his current pace.
- Needs reps vs. advanced LHP.
4. Bowman Hobby Outlook
| Parallel | Avg Price |
|---|---|
| Base Auto | $80 |
| Purple /250 | $125 |
| Blue /150 (color-match) Auto Chrome | $300+ |
| Blue /150 Paper Auto | $50 |
Plentiful paper and in-person options dilute his market significantly.
TL;DR — Montes offers top-scale power and just enough hit tool as of now; his low-number Bowman Chrome autos already trade like mini-Julio and will soar if Double-A contact holds. There's been some strong performance this year, noted by a significant jump in Baseball America's rankings, but we're not totally buyers despite some affordable cards.