PEORIA, AZ: Lazaro Montes of the Seattle Mariners runs the bases during a spring training game against the Chicago White Sox at Peoria Stadium on Feb. 24, 2026. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images)
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The Seattle Mariners are about to place their flagging chance at a playoff spot on the bat of 21-year-old Lazaro Montes. The slugger is being called up after hitting 38 home runs in the minors in 2026, including 10 in August.
The Mariners need him to continue the power display in September in a Seattle uniform. The 6-foot-5 Cuban is expected to join the team Tuesday in the middle of a three-game series in Boston.
Whether the left-hander plays immediately at Fenway Park, which traditionally favors right-handed hitters, is for manager Dan Wilson to decide. Boston started left-hander Peyton Tolle in the opener, and is expected to use ace right-hander Sonny Gray on Wednesday and lefty Pablo Sandoval on Thursday.
Montes has struggled against left-handed pitchers in 2026, batting just .201 with six homers. He has raked right-handers for 32 homers and a .274 average.
He opened the year at Double-A Arkansas and was moved up to Triple-A Tacoma on July 7. His batting average moved up 40 points, too, from .234 to .274 at the higher level.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ: Lazaro Montes of the Seattle Mariners bats in a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on March 4, 2026. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
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“He loves the game. He loves being around the game,” Wilson told Jay Cohen of The Associated Press at the Mariners’ spring training camp in Peoria, AZ. “And that’s the type of attitude that’s pretty contagious. His energy’s contagious, and you just love being around it.”
That upbeat quality could be the spark in the clubhouse that finally puts the Mariners’ talent-laden veteran lineup in gear after a summer of struggles.
Montes’ March To Mariners
The Mariners put down $2.5 million to sign the big Cuban at age 17 in January of 2022. He was drafted out of the Dominican Republic, where he and his family moved in 2018 so the 13-year-old could train with Aldo Marrero.
The noted hitting instructor had helped develop Yordan Alvarez, the Houston Astros’ slugger currently on target for winning a Triple Crown in 2026. He leads the AL in batting (.317), homers (37) and RBI (93).
Montes has similar bat speed and launch angle to his swing. He was ranked the No. 8 international prospect at the time by MLB Pipeline and is the first player promoted to MLB from the 2022 international signing class.
ATLANTA: Lazaro Montes of the Seattle Mariners takes batting practice before the 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game at Truist Park on July 12, 2025. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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He had a lot of big moments in 2025, including a trip to the All-Star Futures Game. Overall in the minors, Montes has crashed 114 homers in 497 games – and has also struck out an alarming 613 times.
Montes has a strong arm that plays well in right field, though his overall defense is not stellar. Yet earlier this year, he went all-out to make a spectacular play.
The Mariners’ best defender in right is Victor Robles. He platoons with lefty Dominic Canzone, who has been used more at DH since Luke Raley was injured in late July. Raley is out for the season after having elbow surgery.
Right-handed DH-outfielder Taylor Ward, acquired at the trade deadline from the Baltimore Orioles, has hit just .113 for Seattle in 18 games.
Montes at DH is an option, though young players generally need time to adjust to the role and the Mariners’ situation calls for immediate production.
Why Mariners Need Montes
Seattle is five games out of a possible playoff berth with 25 to play. Compounding their outlook, the Mariners are one of eight teams within 5 1/2 games of the current leaders (Houston and Cleveland) in the scramble for two wild-card spots.
An even bigger dilemma is how do the Mariners suddenly remember how to score. Seattle is a dead-last 30th in MLB with 530 runs. That’s an average of 3.87 a game. A year ago, the Mariners were 10th in scoring, averaging 4.73 a game as AL West champions with a 90-72 record. An unreasonable dream finish of 25-0 this year would put them at 89-73.
TORONTO: Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners hits a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series at the Rogers Centre on Oct. 20, 2025. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
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The Mariners came within two runs of making their first World Series a year ago, losing Game 7 of the AL Championship Series to the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-3, after leading, 3-1, into the bottom of the seventh.
On Sunday, the Mariners got only one hit in a 7-0 loss in Toronto, extending their losing streak to four. It dropped their batting average to an MLB-worst .227.
Seattle’s “Terrific Trio” in the middle of the 2025 lineup have scuffled in 2026. Catcher Cal Raleigh, outfielder Julio Rodriguez and first baseman Josh Naylor are all having unexpectedly poor seasons at the plate.
Only Randy Arozarena (20 homers, 20 steals, 56 RBI, .268) is on track to match his 2025 output (27 homers, 31 steals, 76 RBI, .238).
Montes told AP in February he has a special bond with fellow Cuban Arozarena.
“One of the things for us, you know, as Cubans, something that we carry is how competitive we are. And to see him bring that and, you know, bring it to the major leagues is something that I’ve really admired because bringing something from our culture into this league, it’s special.”
Seattle Mariners’ Future
The Mariners are among MLB’s biggest disappointments in 2026. Nothing has clicked as expected and injuries have been part of the blame.
Key off-season addition Brendan Donovan, expected to be an on-base machine atop the order while playing third base, has been limited to 39 games by various injuries. Raley, young shortstop Cole Emerson and starter Emerson Hancock are all sidelined, too.
SEATTLE: Kade Anderson of the Seattle Mariners pitches against the Chicago Cubs in his MLB debut at T-Mobile Park on Aug. 22, 2026. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images)
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Still, the Mariners are in striking distance. Rookie Cole Young has helped at second base. Top prospect Kade Anderson was called up two weeks ago to bolster the starting rotation. Now it is Montes’ turn.
The club has the ability to get hot enough to make an historic playoff run – and such a spurt could carry into post-season glory.
Realistically however, the odds are long on it happening for the Seattle Mariners in 2026.
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