It’s only becoming clearer that the Mariners have the next Yordan Alvarez…
Lazaro Montes is at it again, Seattle Mariners fans. The 20-year-old slugger continues to torch baseballs, launching air-mailed souvenirs across the Pacific Northwest for the High-A Everett AquaSox. For the second time already in the 2025 campaign, he’s been crowned Northwest League Player of the Week.
During a series in Eugene over the weekend, Montes clubbed two home runs, added a triple, drew five walks, and crossed the plate five times, continuing what’s become a statement season for one of Seattle’s brightest prospects.
Through the opening weeks, Montes leads the Northwest League in a laundry list of offensive categories, including:
Home runs: 7
Triples: 4
Extra-base hits: 16
Total bases: 61
Slugging percentage: .604
Lazaro Montes is turning the Yordan Alvarez comparison into reality
It’s no fluke, as Montes isn’t swinging with reckless abandon. He’s displaying a disciplined approach to accompany his power, walking 24 times and striking out just 32 — a huge step forward for a player once viewed as a free-swinging power bat.
That kind of refinement is what’s drawing even more serious comparisons to Yordan Alvarez, a name that’s followed Montes ever since he signed with Seattle. This year, that comp isn’t just aspirational — it’s starting to look real. Even his home run trot has a Yordan-esque strut.
Lazaro Montes has 27 hits this year — 16 of which have gone for extra bases 😲
MLB’s No. 38 prospect (@Mariners) claims the High-A Northwest League homer lead (@EverettAquaSox) on this rocket: pic.twitter.com/6NJFcKLVZu
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 4, 2025
The parallels go deeper than just the eye test. Both Montes and Alvarez share Cuban roots and a similar path to the majors. They even share the same hitting instructor who helped develop their left-handed power strokes. Like Alvarez, Montes has become known for his towering pop at the plate and his growing reputation as a disciplined hitter, though both still have room to grow defensively.
Montes already gave Mariners fans a taste of what might be coming when he impressed in spring training, slashing .278/.435/.667 with two homers and seven RBIs in Cactus League action. Despite his spring breakout, the Mariners wisely opted not to rush his development. With an outfield featuring Julio Rodríguez, Randy Arozarena, and Victor Robles, there was no need to cram him into a role at the highest level. Instead, they placed him in High-A to focus on his reps, and further polishing his all-around game.
At this rate, it feels inevitable that Montes will receive a promotion to Double-A Arkansas in the coming months. If he continues to dominate against more advanced pitching, a late-season stint in Triple-A Tacoma wouldn’t be out of the question — especially if the Mariners are looking for depth or injury replacements down the stretch.
Of course, patience remains key. Montes only just turned 20. But his combination of power, patience, and presence is making it increasingly difficult to keep expectations tempered.
Barring a meteoric rise or an outfield injury crisis, Montes likely won’t see the big leagues in 2025. But 2026? That’s starting to feel very realistic. With another offseason of refinement and possibly a taste of Triple-A, Montes is positioning himself to be not just a call-up — but an impact bat waiting in the wings for the next great Mariners team.
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