Hulking Mariners prospect could actually have more than just power to offer

The best baseball players are typically well-rounded, especially these days. You may have been able to get away with being a one-tool guy years ago, but with advanced analytics and the amount of available data, it's difficult to sneak by with an incomplete profile.

For prospects, failing to flesh out the other aspects of their abilities is often a major reason behind falling short of a successful major league career. Since being signed as an international free agent in 2022, Lazaro Montes has been known for one thing: his power. Because his contact and swing decisions didn't quite match up to his natural slugging abilities, he was initially seen as a high-risk prospect, but he has been cutting down on the strikeouts over time. Now, he's rounding out his skills on the other side of the ball.

Lazaro Montes seems to have steadily been improving his defensive abilities

According to scouts, Montes is far below average when it comes to playing in the outfield. His range is limited by his lack of speed and although his arm has been useful in right field, his long-term outlook was still to be a designated hitter.

However, he has dedicated himself to getting better and it's starting to pay off. In Fangraphs' list of Top 100 prospects for 2026, they ranked Montes at No. 66 overall and gave him some praise for the strides he took.

"He’s never going to win a Gold Glove, but the progress Montes has made defensively deserves praise. In 2023, he looked like a disaster, a surefire DH who didn’t do anything well out in right field. He’s put a ton of work in since and it shows. His ability to track a ball and make plays at the edge of his range have grown tremendously, and he’s turned his strong but wild arm into a playable tool."

FanGraphs

Because of its sheer upside, the writers at FanGraphs agree that Montes will only go as far as his power will take him, but improving across the board gives him slightly more value to fall back on. He already reached new heights in 2025, and since right field could still be a hole in the big league lineup, he could have a chance at getting called up within the next few years.

In the meantime, there's plenty more to learn and refine. Montes' imposing size and impressive hitting numbers make it easy to forget that he's still just 21 years old. He still has a few years before the organization will have to make a decision on whether he gets to take the field or is relegated to being a designated hitter — who knows how good he'll be by then?