BOSTON -- Lazaro Montes’ 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame made the confines of Fenway Park’s already small visiting clubhouse feel even more constricted on Tuesday afternoon.
And that was especially so as the Mariners’ 21-year-old power-hitting prospect went through an assembly line of hugs from his new teammates before making his MLB debut later that night.
One after another, the embraces were shared -- of congratulations, for sure, but also with a good-to-see-you-again feel, as Montes spent extended time among this group in Spring Training.
Those welcoming moments spoke to the imprint that he has made within the organization, as one of Seattle’s most affable to come through its Minor League system in this era. Yes, he’s flashed the 40-homer potential already -- but it’s the big personality that has resonated even more.
“His energy already is felt,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said.
Montes, Seattle’s No. 5 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 56 overall, was immediately injected into the Mariners’ lineup upon being selected from Triple-A Tacoma as part of September roster expansions -- batting seventh and at designated hitter. Montes walked in his first plate appearance before scoring a run, then collected his first MLB hit with an RBI single in the third.
The Mariners are hopeful that he can provide a jolt to both their offense and clubhouse, as they entered play sitting 10 games under .500 (64-74) and with their playoff hopes fleeting.
“I was ready all the time,” Montes said. “All the time, I was ready. I was thinking too much on this, and I was ready all the time. Keep growing, and the little things -- that was the most important for me.”
He will wear No. 99, the number that was assigned to him in camp -- a big number for a big guy.
COMPLETE MARINERS PROSPECT COVERAGE
“I feel comfortable with that number, 99,” Montes said. “It's a big number, almost 100.”
The DH spot is one that he could be deployed in regularly down the stretch, as the Mariners intend to allocate him runway to contribute. He’ll also play right field, a position that scouts have suggested offers room for improvement, though club officials have been encouraged by his progress in 2026.
“I take it very seriously there,” Montes said, “because I know a lot of people say like, 'Ah, you're going to be a DH. You're going to be over here, you only hit,' and everything. But also like ... that, for me, is a very important thing, and I have fun too much in the outfield. So for me, it was a challenge, and that made me a better player.”
Also on Tuesday, Seattle selected veteran left-hander Hoby Milner from Tacoma, one day after he signed a Minors contract to join the organization. And in corresponding 40-man roster moves, infielder/outfielder Connor Joe and right-hander Nolan Kingham were designated for assignment.
Montes was joined in Boston by his wife, Monica, and their baby boy, Lazaro Jr., for his highly anticipated debut. His parents were not in attendance, but he shared a touching recount of calling them to inform them of the news.
“We were crying together because we come from a hard life, you know?” Montes said. “And now, we made it. We're happy, and that was an amazing moment.”
And during an extended interview pregame, he insisted on speaking English, which is his second language.
“I can't describe how I feel in this moment right now, but I feel like I made it,” Montes said.
In the midst of a monster year, Montes has clubbed 38 homers -- second-most in the Minors -- with 96 RBIs over 123 games between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma, having been promoted in early July. That’s correlated to a slash line of .249/.369/.558 (.928 OPS).
Many in the industry, including himself, have compared him to Yordan Alvarez -- for his profile as a left-handed slugger from Cuba. Montes actually trained with the AL MVP favorite’s hitting coach, respected Cuban instructor Aldo Marrero.
It’s way too early to expect that Montes will make the impact that Alvarez did in Houston as a youngster, en route to winning the 2019 AL Rookie of the Year Award. But he’s already thinking big, especially as he prepares for the most important games of his life -- and Seattle’s season.