Mariners Call Up Slugger Lazaro Montes for September Playoff Push

Mariners Turn to Young Slugger

The Seattle Mariners are set to add 21-year-old slugger Lazaro Montes to their roster when rosters expand Tuesday, according to Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times. The move comes as the team looks to revive a struggling offense during the final stretch of the regular season.

Montes, a 6-foot-5 Cuban left-handed hitter, hit 38 home runs in the minors in 2026, including 10 in August, as reported by Forbes. He opened the year at Double-A Arkansas and was promoted to Triple-A Tacoma on July 7, where his batting average rose from .234 to .274. In 21 games at Triple-A, he hit .273 with five home runs and 13 RBI, though he also struck out 32 times in that span, according to NBC Sports.

Forbes notes that Montes has struggled against left-handed pitchers this season, batting just .201 with six homers, while hitting right-handers for 32 homers and a .274 average. He is expected to join the team in Boston during a three-game series, where the Red Sox are expected to start left-hander Peyton Tolle in the opener, followed by right-hander Sonny Gray on Wednesday and lefty Pablo Sandoval on Thursday.

A Season of Offensive Woes

The Mariners' decision to call up Montes comes amid a difficult offensive season. On Sunday, the team managed only one hit in a 7-0 loss in Toronto, extending their losing streak to four games, as reported by Forbes. Their team batting average has dropped to an MLB-worst .227.

Several key players have underperformed at the plate, including Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, and Josh Naylor, according to Forbes. Only Randy Arozarena, with 20 homers and 20 steals, is on track to match his 2025 output. The team also lost Luke Raley for the season after elbow surgery, and key offseason addition Brendan Donovan has been limited to 39 games by injuries.

The Mariners are five games out of a playoff berth with 25 games to play, and they are one of eight teams within 5 1/2 games of the current leaders in the race for two wild-card spots, as reported by Forbes. A year ago, the Mariners won the AL West with a 90-72 record and came within two runs of reaching the World Series, losing Game 7 of the ALCS to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Montes' Rise and Potential Role

Montes was signed by the Mariners for $2.5 million in January 2022, after he and his family moved to the Dominican Republic in 2018 to train with hitting instructor Aldo Marrero, who helped develop Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez, according to Forbes. He was ranked the No. 8 international prospect by MLB Pipeline and is the first player from the 2022 international signing class to be promoted to the majors.

In the minors, Montes has hit 114 home runs in 497 games, but has also struck out 613 times, per Forbes. He has a strong arm in right field, though his overall defense is not considered stellar.

NBC Sports reports that Montes has been on a hot streak recently, with hits in 10 of his last 11 games, going 17-for-46 (.369) with four home runs and 11 RBI over that stretch. He is the Mariners' third-ranked prospect and MLB Pipeline's 26th overall prospect.

Manager Dan Wilson has praised Montes' attitude, telling Jay Cohen of The Associated Press at spring training: "He loves the game. He loves being around the game. And that's the type of attitude that's pretty contagious. His energy's contagious, and you just love being around it."

Montes' arrival could impact the playing time of Taylor Ward, who was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles and has struggled with the Mariners, hitting .113 in 18 games, according to Forbes (NBC Sports lists a .145 average in the same number of games). Ward has been dealing with quad tightness and has missed several games, though manager Dan Wilson told reporters that Ward is close to returning to the lineup, as reported by NBC Sports.

Montes is a left-handed hitter, so a platoon with the right-handed Ward might be an option, according to NBC Sports. The Mariners also have Victor Robles as the best defender in right field, platooning with lefty Dominic Canzone, who has been used more at DH since Raley's injury, per Forbes.

Playoff Hopes and Outlook

The Mariners are among MLB's biggest disappointments this season, according to Forbes, but the call-up of Montes represents a bet on youth and power to spark a late surge. With 25 games remaining, the team faces an uphill climb, but the addition of a top prospect could provide a boost.

Montes told the AP in February that he has a special bond with teammate Randy Arozarena, saying, "One of the things for us, you know, as Cubans, something that we carry is how competitive we are." That competitive spirit will be tested as the Mariners fight for a wild-card spot.

Forbes notes that the Mariners have also called up top prospect Kade Anderson two weeks ago to bolster the starting rotation, and rookie Cole Young has helped at second base. The team's recent struggles, including a four-game losing streak, have put them in a precarious position, but the addition of Montes could provide the offensive spark they need.

As the Mariners prepare for the final stretch, all eyes will be on the young slugger to see if he can translate his minor-league power to the major-league stage and help Seattle make a historic playoff run.