Lazaro Montes

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #15 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Montes grew up in Cuba and moved to the Dominican Republic to train with renowned hitting instructor Aldo Ramirez, who famously trained Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez. Montes quickly emerged as a top prospect under Ramirez's tutelage and signed with the Mariners for $2.5 million on the first day of the 2022 international signing period. Montes showcased his power with 10 home runs in his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League after signing, but he also had an alarming 33% strikeout rate against low-quality pitching.
  
  Scouting Report: Montes is a physical specimen with tremendous strength. He makes loud contact to all fields from the left side and already posts some of the highest exit velocities in the Mariners organization. He destroys balls with true, 80-grade raw power and is a threat to leave the park at any time. Montes' power is mesmerizing, but he has massive holes in his swing that limit his ability to make contact. He crushes fastballs and breaking balls down in the zone but swings through against anything above his waist. He'll have to adjust to pitches up in the zone to be even a below-average hitter. Montes is a well below-average runner, but he's a good athlete with better body control than his speed suggests and has a chance to get faster with the right coaching. His glove, hands and arm have all improved defensively and he has a chance to be an average left fielder, albeit one with limited range.
  
  The Future: Montes has the potential to be a 30-plus home run threat, but only if he closes the hole in his swing. He will make his stateside debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 30. Power: 60. Speed: 30. Fielding: 50. Arm: 40.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Montes grew up in Cuba and moved to the Dominican Republic to train with renowned hitting instructor Aldo Ramirez, who famously trained Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez. Montes quickly emerged as a top prospect under Ramirez's tutelage and signed with the Mariners for $2.5 million on the first day of the 2022 international signing period. Montes showcased his power with 10 home runs in his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League after signing, but he also had an alarming 33% strikeout rate against low-quality pitching.
  
  Scouting Report: Montes is a physical specimen with tremendous strength. He makes loud contact to all fields from the left side and already posts some of the highest exit velocities in the Mariners organization. He destroys balls with true, 80-grade raw power and is a threat to leave the park at any time. Montes' power is mesmerizing, but he has massive holes in his swing that limit his ability to make contact. He crushes fastballs and breaking balls down in the zone but swings through against anything above his waist. He'll have to adjust to pitches up in the zone to be even a below-average hitter. Montes is a well below-average runner, but he's a good athlete with better body control than his speed suggests and has a chance to get faster with the right coaching. His glove, hands and arm have all improved defensively and he has a chance to be an average left fielder, albeit one with limited range.
  
  The Future: Montes has the potential to be a 30-plus home run threat, but only if he closes the hole in his swing. He will make his stateside debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 30. Power: 60. Speed: 30. Fielding: 50. Arm: 40.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Montes grew up in Cuba and moved to the Dominican Republic to train with renowned hitting instructor Aldo Ramirez, who famously trained Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez. Montes quickly emerged as a top prospect under Ramirez's tutelage and signed with the Mariners for $2.5 million on the first day of the 2022 international signing period. Montes showcased his power with 10 home runs in his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League after signing, but he also had an alarming 33% strikeout rate against low-quality pitching.
  
  Scouting Report: Montes is a physical specimen with tremendous strength. He makes loud contact to all fields from the left side and already posts some of the highest exit velocities in the Mariners organization. He destroys balls with true, 80-grade raw power and is a threat to leave the park at any time. Montes' power is mesmerizing, but he has massive holes in his swing that limit his ability to make contact. He crushes fastballs and breaking balls down in the zone but swings through against anything above his waist. He'll have to adjust to pitches up in the zone to be even a below-average hitter. Montes is a well below-average runner, but he's a good athlete with better body control than his speed suggests and has a chance to get faster with the right coaching. His glove, hands and arm have all improved defensively and he has a chance to be an average left fielder, albeit one with limited range.
  
  The Future: Montes has the potential to be a 30-plus home run threat, but only if he closes the hole in his swing. He will make his stateside debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 30. Power: 60. Speed: 30. Fielding: 50. Arm: 40.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  The Mariners landed one of the premier sluggers available when they signed Montes for $2.5 million. Built in the mold of fellow Cuban slugger Yordan Alvarez, Montes is a physically imposing masher who can launch towering shots thanks to his plus-plus raw power from the left side. While power is Montes' standout tool, unlike other players his age who have big power in batting practice but struggle against live pitching, Montes separated himself with his hitting ability in games. For someone his age and size, Montes has a relatively compact swing with good path through the hitting zone and the leverage to drive the ball for impact in games, giving him a chance to be a 30-plus home run threat. Montes' offensive ability will drive his value, as he's a below-average runner at best who will likely slow down. He's going to develop as a corner outfielder, though he's so big that there's some risk he ends up at first base eventually.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Montes is built in the mold of fellow Cuban slugger Yordan Alvarez, a physically imposing masher with huge raw power. He became Seattle&#39s top signing from their 2021-22 international class when the signing period opened in Jan. 2022, landing a $2.5 million bonus.
  
  Scouting Report: Montes can launch towering shots thanks to his plus-plus raw power from the left side. While power is Montes&#39 standout tool, unlike other players his age who have big power in batting practice but struggle against live pitching, Montes separated himself with his hitting ability in games. For someone his age and size, Montes has a relatively compact swing with good path through the hitting zone and the leverage to drive the ball for impact in games, giving him a chance to be a 30-plus home run threat. Montes&#39 offensive ability will drive his value, as he&#39s a below-average runner at best who will likely slow down. He&#39s going to develop as a corner outfielder, though he&#39s so big that there&#39s some risk he ends up at first base eventually.
  
  The Future: Montes is still years away from the big leagues, but if everything clicks he has the upside to be an impact hitter in the middle of a lineup. The 2022 Dominican Summer League should be his first step in pro ball.