Seattle Promotes Slugger Montes for September Stretch
The Mariners are calling up outfielder Lázaro Montes from Triple-A Tacoma as rosters expand to 28 players. Montes has hit 38 home runs across Double-A and Triple-A this season, but he also carries a strikeout rate around 31 percent. Seattle hopes his power can provide a late-season offensive boost.
Montes, 21, signed with Seattle for $2.5 million in 2022 and has developed into one of the organization's most promising power threats. His 38 combined home runs this season between Double-A and Triple-A, along with a .940 OPS at Tacoma, made the promotion difficult to ignore. The left-handed hitter stands 6-foot-5 and has shown elite exit velocity, including a 115.9 mph home run in late August.
The call-up comes as Seattle looks to spark a lagging offense during the final month of the regular season. The team reportedly considered infielder Michael Arroyo for the roster spot but opted for Montes' power upside. His 31 percent strikeout rate in Triple-A remains a concern, though the Mariners appear willing to accept that trade-off for potential game-changing at-bats.
This promotion could resonate beyond Seattle's lineup, as fans of a franchise long starved for homegrown offensive talent may see Montes as a symbol of hope. His success or struggles in September could shape offseason decisions about the team's outfield plans and influence how aggressively the front office pursues external bats. For the broader baseball audience, it highlights the growing tension between raw power and strikeout risk in modern player development.