Remember how ridiculous it seemed to compare a young Lazaro Montes to Yordan Alvarez, dubbing him "Baby Yordan?" Well, Montes is starting to make those comps seem so outlandish.
Since the Seattle Mariners promoted him from High-A Everett to Double-A Arkansas, the 20-year-old outfielder is hitting .269/.429/.731 with three home runs and seven RBI in just seven games. The highlight so far? A 475-foot home run that left no doubt about the kind of power he brings to the table.
After dominating High-A Everett, Lazaro Montes has wasted no time making an impression at Double-A Arkansas.
Even in a small sample, Montes is showing why he’s one of the most talked-about prospects, not just in Seattle’s system, but in baseball.
He currently leads all of minor league baseball in home runs (21), and his performance has earned him a well-deserved selection to the 2025 Futures Game, a stage reserved for the game’s most promising young stars.
Oh my goodness. Lazaro Montes goes 475ft for a solo HR! pic.twitter.com/A2t9PVCig0
— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) June 28, 2025
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Montes fits the profile of a classic middle-of-the-order slugger. His combination of raw power and improving plate discipline has often drawn the comparison to Yordan Alvarez, especially given his imposing figure, left-handed swing and ability to punish mistakes. While those comps are still arguably premature, the way Montes is handling upper-level pitching at such a young age is encouraging.
What stands out the most is the way he’s adjusted. After dominating High-A earlier this season, he’s now showing that his approach can carry over against more advanced arms. The walk rate remains healthy, and when he gets a pitch to drive, he doesn’t miss. His 26 percent strikeout rate during is a little elevated, but if he can maintain that rate with the power he's expected to produce, he will be just fine.
For a Mariners team that’s looking to add long-term impact to its lineup, Montes continues to make a strong case that he could be part of that future sooner than later. If his current trajectory continues, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him knocking on the door of Triple-A or even Seattle, before too long.