Lazaro Montes has unexpected company among Mariners minor league sluggers

Mariners pitchers doing well in the farm system is practically a given these days, but now we're seeing a similar level of success with the hitters. All the top-rated prospects are doing well at the plate this season, with Lazaro Montes leading the way in both home runs and RBI. However, it might surprise some people to hear that the unheralded Hunter Fitz-Gerald is second among all M's prospects in these categories.

Montes already has 25 homers and 66 RBI, in what is projected to be a career year in both categories. In the case of Fitz-Gerald however, he's already established this, with his 19 blasts and 61 ribbies both single-season bests in his professional career. The home runs in particular are a pleasant surprise, considering that he only had 15 in total heading into the 2026 campaign.

You might contend just from looking at Fitz-Gerald that the potential to rake was always there, given that he stands at 6-foot-5 and 230 lbs. And he's putting that size to good use, with nine of his homers coming at Dickey–Stephens Park, which is notorious for being a nightmare for hitters. Heck, the left-handed bat can even hit pokes out to left field:

For some context, the nine home runs at Dickey–Stephens Park by Fitz-Gerald is actually one more than Montes. It surely has to feel good to be beating his teammate and the Mariners' top hitting prospect in at least one category. Either way, the 25-year-old has developed into one of the feelgood and breakout stories of this minor league season.

A low draft pick finally coming good and (more than) holding his own with the M's best hitting prospects

Helping grow the vibe of almost appearing out of nowhere is that in some respects, this is exactly what Fitz-Gerald has done. Coming out of of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School where he played under his dad, the Boca Raton, Florida native was drafted by the Rockies in the 33rd round of the 2019 draft.

Fitz-Gerald instead decided to go the college route with Florida Southwest College, where he was named to the All-State Team in 2022. His best year came in 2023 at Old Dominion, when he batted .316 with a 1.061 OPS in 55 games. This helped persuade the Mariners to take a chance and sign him to a minor league deal as an undrafted free agent.

In some respects, Fitz-Gerald's path has the makings of another Mike Yastrzemski-type story as a late bloomer who might actually make it in the Majors. In the meantime, it feels like he has beaten the odds just by finally breaking out in Double-A Arkansas. Certainly, it's impressive as heck that he's holding his own with Montes, as well as the likes of Michael Arroyo, Jonny Farmelo and Felnin Celesten.

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