Laz in his own words: Mariners prospect looks back on top highlights of '25

Everything about Lazaro Montes is big. The smile. The height. The hype.

In Major League camp for the second time as a 21-year-old, MLB Pipeline’s No. 43 overall prospect is part of the next wave of Mariners talent that’s quickly gaining ground in their quest to make an impact in Seattle.

But before then, he remains one of Minor League Baseball’s most electric players. With Montes set to be one of the club’s headlining stars for its Spring Breakout game on March 20, and a near-nightly highlight factory for High-A Everett and Double-A Arkansas in 2025, the start of a new campaign feels like a great time to look back at the highlights of his previous one -- and to see what the 6-foot-5 slugger thought of the plays himself.

(Freddy Llanos, the Mariners’ senior director of baseball communications, served as interpreter for Montes’ reactions.)

June 27: 475-foot home run for Double-A Arkansas
“Honestly, I was waiting for that fastball. I knew it was coming. Then when it got there, I just had to give it everything I had and send that thing as far as possible. … There's some that were farther that we never got to record or were never measured or anything, but that I've hit, that was probably one of the ones that went farthest.”

June 13: Back-to-back home runs with Michael Arroyo (MLB’s No. 67 prospect)
“It's special hitting behind him because I think he's a guy that definitely motivates me. He goes out there and he's always getting some sort of hit -- double, home run, whatever it is. So me following that, it motivates me to get out there and do something special too.”

Aug. 22: Two-homer game for Double-A
“Arkansas was definitely a beautiful experience. You get a chance to kind of experience that there was a lot more competitiveness with the pitchers [at Double-A], and also, you got a taste of a little more professionalism when you got over there. But that specific at-bat I really enjoyed because when I went out there, there was a lot of chirping going on, especially between me and the catcher. The catcher would tell me, ‘Oh, you don't know what I'm gonna throw next or you're gonna get punched out here.’ So when I hit that, it felt good.”

May 20-21: Homers on consecutive days to same spot
“The first one, actually, I was a little surprised because even at BP, I was never able to take it out in that specific spot. So when I got it out the first time I was like, ‘Wow, I actually got it over [the batter’s eye]’, and when I made contact the next day, I just felt it. I was like, ‘Oh, that's gone.’”

July 23: Running over-the-shoulder catch … and the celebration!
“With a Willie Mays! (laughs) I was playing a little too shallow, like way too shallow, but I knew it was the 10th inning and I told myself, ‘Whatever comes my way, I have to go all out for it and try to catch that.’ When I saw that ball go, you know, I ran as fast as I could, but I lost it a little bit. I lost it while I was running, and then there was just a quick millisecond where it flashed, and that's when I put up my glove and I was able to catch it. So when I landed, I just celebrated.”