Slugging Mariners top prospect's first Double-A home run was outrageous

Lazaro Montes is the No. 2 prospect in the Seattle Mariners system and the No. 31 overall prospect at MLB Pipeline for a reason. His great hit tool and unbelievable power have made him a tough at-bat for minor league pitchers all year, especially while he was in High-A.

Across 301 plate appearances with the Everett AquaSox, he posted a 146 wRC+ with 18 homers and 12 doubles, leading to his eventual promotion earlier this month. Despite the step up in competition, the 20-year old hasn't wasted a second, hitting a long homer in just his second game with Double-A Arkansas.

To those who have been following Montes for the whole season, this should come as no surprise. He has been one of the best hitters in the entire farm system this year and shows no signs of slowing down. It's already his 19th home run of the season, tied for the most in the minors, and a strong second half could make his future with the franchise quite interesting.

Lazaro Montes' power hasn't suffered a bit since his move to Double-A

Montes is already slated for a 2026 debut and given that his primary position is right field, the road forward is likely clearer than it is for Seattle's other top prospects. Unlike names like Harry Ford and Colt Emerson, there isn't an already established right fielder on the big league roster.

Víctor Robles might come to mind as the first choice to fill the role, but 2026 will be the final guaranteed year on his contract. If his long-term shoulder injury affects his hitting abilities, Montes could get the call and be the team's first power bat in right field since Mitch Haniger in 2021.

Montes is currently on the doorstep to the show and what he accomplishes at the higher levels of the minor leagues could give Mariners fans a glimpse of their next franchise star. It'll be even more interesting to watch him play in Triple-A, where Statcast can be found in select ballparks, giving us more in-depth data on just how hard he's hitting baseballs.

It may seem foolish to focus so much on the future of the franchise instead of who's on the roster now, but as players like Cole Young and potentially even Harry Ford are demonstrating, the time to call on these young prospects to become major league contributors isn't too far off. With some fresh faces and a few stars hopefully set to reignite this summer, this could be the start of a golden age for Seattle baseball.