Top Seattle Mariners Prospect Earns Incredible Minor League Award

One of the Seattle Mariners most promising prospects Lazaro Montes accomplished a major achievement on Wednesday.

The Seattle Mariners armed forces day hat is pictured in the dugout before a game against the Atlanta Braves on May 20, 2023, at Truist Park. / Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The Seattle Mariners are still trying to make a second trip to the playoffs in three years a reality.

But while the Mariners are looking to find a way into October, several of the organization's minor league affiliates have either already wrapped up or are nearing the end of their respective years.

And it was an extremely successful season for Seattle's farm system. Especially its individual prospects.

By beginning of September, the Mariners had eight prospects in Baseball America's top 100 list — the most in the league.

And one of those prospects was just named Most Valuable Player.

Seattle's No. 3 prospect and the No. 45 prospect in all of baseball (according to MLB Pipeline) was named the California League MVP and the league's top MLB prospect on Wednesday in addition to being named a league All-Star.

What a year for Lazaro 🔥

Lazaro Montes has been named the California League MVP and Top MLB Prospect! #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/k4u2TTCOgT

— Mariners Player Development (@MsPlayerDev) September 18, 2024

Montes was named the MVP during his time with the Mariners' Low-A affiliate Modesto Nuts. What makes his award more impressive is the fact that he wasn't in Modesto for almost half of the year.

Montes was promoted to the organization's High-A affiliate Everett AquaSox on June 25. He played 65 games with the Nuts and 51 with the AquaSox.

While with Modesto, Montes hit .309 with 13 home runs and 72 RBIs.

Montes finished the season with a .280 average, 21 home runs and 33 RBIs.

Lazaro Montes on Thursday night: 2 homers, 4 RBIs
Lazaro Montes on Friday night: 2 homers, 4 RBIs! (so far)

The @Mariners' third-ranked prospect ranks second among all Minor Leaguers with 102 RBIs across two levels.@EverettAquaSox | @MsPlayerDev pic.twitter.com/f5BYBjpFP4

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 31, 2024

Montes is projected for a 2026 call-up according to MLB Pipeline and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him get an invite to spring training in 2025 with how his season went.

If Montes can continue his current trajectory, Seattle fans will likely get to see him sooner rather than later.

Related Stories on Seattle Mariners

MARINERS PROSPECT PROMOTED TO DOUBLE-A: The Seattle Mariners promoted a promising prospect to the team's Double-A affiliate Arkansas Travelers ahead of a Texas League divisional playoff series. CLICK HERE

MONTES COMMENTS ON YEAR WITH AQUASOX: One of the Seattle Mariners top prospects, Lazaro Montes spoke with Seattle Mariners on SI before Sunday's season minor league season finale between the Everett AquaSox and Spokane Indians about his productive year. CLICK HERE

EMERSON COMMENTS ON LATEST SEASON WITH AQUASOX: The Seattle Mariners No. 1 overall prospect Colt Emerson is meeting all expectations despite a few injury setbacks during the season. He spoke with Mariners on SI on Sunday. CLICK HERE

Follow Seattle Mariners on SI on social media

Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on "X" @Teren_Kowatsch and @wdevradiobrady