Mariners super-prospect Lazaro Montes is taking revenge on Baseball America

The Seattle Mariners' farm system has quietly become one of baseball’s most fascinating development stories — and for once, it's not because of the pitching.

Traditionally praised for churning out elite arms, Seattle has flipped the narrative in 2025. The Mariners now boast seven prospects ranked in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100, and remarkably, none of them are pitchers. It’s a testament to the organization’s growing ability to identify and develop bats — bringing us to the evolution of Lazaro Montes.

But if you ask Baseball America, they don’t seem convinced.

Montes, a 6-foot-5 outfielder with tremendous raw power, came into 2024 with major buzz. Baseball America had him pegged at No. 41 in their Top 100 rankings. But after a slow start to the 2024 season, they dropped him precipitously — all the way to No. 97 to start of 2025. And as the season takes shape, Montes has barely budged, climbing just two spots to No. 95.

Baseball America’s reasoning? They question Montes’ bat-to-ball skills and described him as questionable due to poor swing decisions. But so far in 2025, the numbers are telling a very different story.

Lazaro Montes is already making Baseball America's ranking age poorly

Yes, Montes struck out 128 times in 116 games last season. But he also finished the year strong, showing growth in plate discipline and power.

That trend continued this spring — where he crushed two home runs, drove in seven runs, and posted a .278/.435/.667 slash line across 12 games. He walked five times and showed vastly improved patience, pitch recognition, and plate presence.

Assigned to High-A Everett to open the season, Montes has been electric. He’s already earned Northwest League Player of the Week honors after a three-game stretch where he launched an opposite-field home run, notched three hits, and drew five walks.

Through eight games, Montes has eight hits (five for extra bases) and he’s walked as many times (eight) as he's struck out. When a power-hitting corner outfielder is evenly distributing walks and strikeouts, that’s not just solid — that’s elite development.

This isn't about Montes proving doubters wrong. It’s about how a young player has responded to criticism with maturity and growth through his performance. 

No one’s saying Baseball America is completely off base. Montes does have flaws just like every other prospect — flaws that were visible last season. But prospect rankings are supposed to reflect projection, growth, and potential. Montes is checking all those boxes in real time. He’s not the same player who scuffled through April 2024.

So if Baseball America wants to keep Montes buried in the back half of their Top 100, so be it. He seems perfectly content to let his bat do the talking. And if he keeps circling the bases like this, he won’t need to shout. The rankings will have no choice but to listen.