Mariners just put a potential offensive savior on their front doorstep

It was recently announced that the Mariners would be promoting outfield prospect Lazaro Montes to Triple-A Tacoma. He has been an offensive powerhouse for Double-A Arkansas this year, posting a 144 wRC+ with 25 home runs over 339 plate appearances.

Now just one short car ride away from Seattle, Montes could be just what a floundering Mariners offense needs to get back on track.

The Mariners have a combined slugging percentage of just .382, 26th in MLB. Only three players have a slugging percentage above .450 and one of them isn't even playing every day. With Cal Raleigh still struggling to look comfortable at the plate this year, the team has been more reliant on hitters like Dominic Canzone, Luke Raley, and Randy Arozarena for extra bases.

Montes offers plenty of pop at the plate, something Seattle has been missing in 2026

Lazaro Montes is someone who could absolutely fill that void in the lineup. Of his five professional seasons, he has slugged under .500 just once, ending 2024 with a .484 slugging percentage. As a slow, strikeout-prone outfielder who isn't the most defensively gifted, he still finds himself as the No. 26 prospect in baseball largely due to his power profile.

His time in Triple-A will finally give fans more advanced Statcast data on just how hard he's hitting but the eye test has already provided compelling evidence of what he's capable of.

One major blocker to him being called up this year is that Seattle's outfield is not only quite crowded, but they're not totally responsible for the team's offensive issues. Mariners outfielders have a combined OPS of .750, ninth in MLB. Furthermore, with Montes' limited defensive flexibility, he's really only played right field, a position currently dominated by Luke Raley. His recurring injuries could open the door for a Montes promotion, but it's hardly guaranteed.

Montes is also far from a finished product. He profiles as a real three true outcome player, with a walk rate that typically hovers around 15%, a strikeout rate that can be as high as 30%, and could likely hit 40 home runs this year if he stays on pace. Big league pitchers will be far better at exploiting poor swing decisions and missing his barrel than those in the minor leagues. If he truly wants a chance at utilizing his best tool, he has plenty of work to do.

Nonetheless, it's encouraging to see the front office steadily progress his career. At 21 years old, he has plenty of runway before any rash decisions have to be made, and playing at a level where the average age is 28 years old should be the challenge he needs to get to the next level. Whether it's this year or next, Montes will be a Mariner and he'll be bringing the pop when he does eventually get the call.

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