OF | Bats/Throws: L/R | 6' 5" 210 lbs | Age: 21
MLB Pipeline Rank
TOP 100: No. 29 | Mariners: No. 3
PA AB R H HR SB AVG OBP SLG OPS
2025 282 240 33 51 14 4 .213 .319 .433 .752
Career Minors 1,650 1,355 250 370 76 17 .273 .393 .518 .911
AVG HR SB OPS
2025 .213 14 4 .752
Career Minors .273 76 17 .911
  • ▾

Standard Minor League Batting Statistics

SeasonTmLGLGPAABRH2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSHBPAVGOBPSLGOPS
2022 DSL Mariners DSL ROK 55 223 176 34 50 13 5 10 41 35 74 3 1 9 .284 .422 .585 1.007
2023 2 Teams Minors 70 302 241 58 73 19 2 13 61 54 76 2 2 6 .303 .440 .560 1.000
2023 ACL Mariners ACL ROK 37 146 110 31 31 10 1 6 31 33 37 1 2 2 .282 .452 .555 1.007
2023 Modesto Nuts CAL A 33 156 131 27 42 9 1 7 30 21 39 1 0 4 .321 .429 .565 .994
2024 2 Teams Minors 116 542 448 82 129 21 2 21 105 78 128 5 3 8 .288 .397 .484 .881
2024 Modesto Nuts CAL A 65 309 256 46 79 13 2 13 72 43 59 1 0 5 .309 .411 .527 .938
2024 Everett AquaSox NWL A+ 51 233 192 36 50 8 0 8 33 35 69 4 3 3 .260 .378 .427 .805
2025 2 Teams Minors 131 583 490 76 118 19 7 32 89 83 169 7 3 5 .241 .354 .504 .858
2025 Everett AquaSox NWL A+ 67 301 250 43 67 12 5 18 50 48 83 3 1 1 .268 .387 .572 .959
2025 Arkansas Travelers TEX AA 64 282 240 33 51 7 2 14 39 35 86 4 2 4 .213 .319 .433 .752
Arkansas Travelers TEX AA 64 282 240 33 51 7 2 14 39 35 86 4 2 4 .213 .319 .433 .752
Everett AquaSox NWL A+ 118 534 442 79 117 20 5 26 83 83 152 7 4 4 .265 .383 .509 .892
Modesto Nuts CAL A 98 465 387 73 121 22 3 20 102 64 98 2 0 9 .313 .417 .540 .957

Scouting Report

2025

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 65 | Run: 35 | Arm: 50 | Field: 40 | Overall: 55

Years from now, the Mariners may look at the 2022 international signing period as a seminal point in building a winning lineup. Infielder Michael Arroyo, who signed for $1.375 million that January, took a big step forward last year. Montes was thought to be one of the best hitters in the class and received $2.5 million to join the organization. The Cuban outfielder has followed a pattern since coming to the United States, dominating a level to earn a promotion, and finished the 2024 season as a teenager with High-A Everett.

Montes' loudest tool is still his top-of-the-scale raw power from the left side of the plate, and he's continuing to learn how to get to that pop consistently in games. He has outstanding bat speed with plenty of loft in his swing to drive the ball in the air, and he can regularly register elite-level exit velocities. There is some swing-and-miss to his game and there will always be strikeouts, but he also draws walks (14.4 percent walk rate in 2024) as he's learning to find better pitches to hit. He models his game after and is often compared to fellow Cuban Yordan Alvarez.

It will be Montes' bat that gets him to the big leagues. He's a below-average defender who can't run. He's a 6-foot-5 beast whose best shot is to man an outfield corner, though the risk he ends up getting a lot of at-bats as a designated hitter down the line is very real. For now, he'll attack the organizational ladder at age 20 for all of the 2025 season.


2024

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 65 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 40 | Overall: 55

Heralded with as much hype as any power hitter in the 2021-22 international class, Montes joined the Mariners for $2.5 million as MLB Pipeline's No. 8 prospect among that group. He experienced some initial lumps during his first year in the Dominican Summer League, with a 33.2 percent strikeout rate and high overall whiff rates, but through a deliberate shift in approach, he managed to cut those numbers significantly upon arriving stateside. The clearest hole in his swing is firm stuff at the top of the zone.

With more focus on pitch selection and patience, knowing that he can scare pitchers out of the zone more, Montes cut down the Ks to a 25 percent clip and was an integral part of helping Low-A Modesto win the California League title, thriving in key moments during that playoff run. Nothing stood out more than his raw power, which has legitimate 80-grade potential based on multiple exit velocity readings beyond 110 mph, thanks mostly to swinging at the right pitches. The obvious comparison -- one that he's publicly made himself -- is to fellow Cuba native Yordan Alvarez. Both trained with famed hitting instructor Aldo Marrero as amateurs. 

Montes' glove won't be his calling card, particularly with below-average range. He'll have to prove everybody wrong to stick in the outfield, as his body and hitting profile project designated hitter by the time he reaches the Majors. Multiple scouts have rightfully pointed out how hard it is to overstate how big he is.


2023

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45

Montes joined the Mariners during the 2021-22 international signing period for $2.5 million with as much hype as any power hitter in that year's class, ranked No. 8 by MLB Pipeline among that group. It translated to 10 homers and a whopping .585 slugging percentage in 55 games during last year's Dominican Summer League. 

However, a 33.2% strikeout rate also jumped off the page, as did the high overall whiff rates, so despite that big-time power, he needs to shorten up, especially as he faces better pitching. Montes still had a .422 on-base percentage and walked at a 15.7 percent clip, suggesting that his issues aren't as much rooted in plate discipline, but more on pitch selection -- because when he does make contact, the exit velocities are pushing past 110 mph. The biggest comparison -- and it's a lofty one -- is to fellow Cuba native Yordan Alvarez.

Defensively, Montes was better than what the Mariners expected in the corner outfield, an encouraging sign that he'll have far more value there than if he moves to first base. An area of improvement would be in route running and overall range given that he projects as an average runner. But if Montes sees improved contact and cuts the K's without sacrificing power this summer in the Arizona Complex League, that'll represent a huge step in his trajectory. 


2022

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Acquired with much hype as part of the 2021 international signing period in January 2022, Montes inked for $2.5 million, nearly half of Seattle's bonus pool. The Cuba native was listed No. 8 among MLB Pipeline's Top 50 International Prospects rankings for that class, and at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds, he towers over the competition for a 17-year-old.

Though Montes is still years away from contributing in the Majors, the Mariners are incredibly bullish on his potential as an everyday, middle-of-the-order run producer; he draws lofty comparisons to Yordan Alvarez. Montes has more athleticism and will begin his pro career playing center field. It's likely that he moves to a corner as he continues to grow into his body, but he has the tools to stay put. For now, he projects as an average defender with an average arm. Like most prospects his age, Montes is still working on his outfield routes and improving his overall range. He also projects as an average runner.

With such a high monetary commitment to a corner bat -- not exactly the Mariners' typical strategy -- Seattle is willing to be patient in allowing Montes' impactful raw power and above-average athleticism to develop. He'll get his professional career officially underway this summer.


2021

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

Montes has power and tons of athleticism. It's this combination, along with large frame and projectable body, that make him one of the most interesting prospects on the market.

The teen is the perfect example of a prospect that developed quickly and transformed from a one-tool player -- in his case, it was power -- to an all-around talent because of his emerging athleticism. Montes will start in center field and yes, he could eventually move to a corner spot because of his body, but he has all of the tools to stay in the middle of the diamond.

For now, he projects to be an average defender with an average arm. Like most prospects his age, Montes is still working on his outfield routes and improving his overall range. He also projects to be an average runner.

The club that signs him will be banking on his impactful raw power and above-average athleticism. 

Montes trains with Aldo Marrero in Santiago, Dominican Republic. The Mariners are the favorite to sign him.



Awards

+ View More Awards

Transactions

Team Date Transaction
07/18/2025 Arkansas Travelers activated OF Lazaro Montes.
07/11/2025 American League Futures activated OF Lazaro Montes.
07/11/2025 Arkansas Travelers placed OF Lazaro Montes on the temporarily inactive list.
06/24/2025 OF Lazaro Montes assigned to Arkansas Travelers from Everett AquaSox.
03/06/2025 activated RF Lazaro Montes.
01/30/2025 Seattle Mariners invited non-roster RF Lazaro Montes to spring training.
08/27/2024 Everett AquaSox activated OF Lazaro Montes.
08/20/2024 Everett AquaSox transferred OF Lazaro Montes to the Development List.
08/20/2024 Everett AquaSox transferred OF Lazaro Montes to the Development List.
06/25/2024 OF Lazaro Montes assigned to Everett AquaSox from Modesto Nuts.
03/07/2024 Seattle Mariners Prospects activated OF Lazaro Montes.
03/03/2024 OF Lazaro Montes assigned to Seattle Mariners.
08/03/2023 OF Lazaro Montes assigned to Modesto Nuts from ACL Mariners.
08/03/2023 Modesto Nuts activated OF Lazaro Montes.
06/05/2023 OF Lazaro Montes assigned to ACL Mariners.
03/17/2023 OF Lazaro Montes roster status changed by Seattle Mariners.
03/17/2023 OF Lazaro Montes assigned to Seattle Mariners.
07/23/2022 OF Lazaro Montes, and assigned to DSL AL All-Stars.
04/03/2022 OF Lazaro Montes assigned to DSL Mariners.
01/15/2022 Seattle Mariners signed free agent OF Lazaro Montes to a minor league contract.