M’s prospect Lazaro Montes channels Willie Mays with superb catch

Touted Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Lazaro Montes is best known for his power-hitting stroke, but it was his glove that provided a highlight-reel moment Wednesday.

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The 20-year-old Montes did his best Willie Mays impression on a run-saving, sliding catch in right field during the top of the 10th inning as the Double-A Arkansas Travelers faced the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

With a runner on third and two outs in a 2-2 game, Montes sprinted back towards the wall on a long flyball, losing his hat in the process, and made an over-the-shoulder basket catch with his back to the play while sliding into the right-field wall.

It wasn’t as graceful nor did he have to run near as far, but Montes’ play had shades of Mays’ famous over-the-shoulder grab at the Polo Grounds during Game 1 of the 1954 World Series.

Montes is the No. 2 prospect in the Mariners’ farm system and No. 34 in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. The left-handed hitting slugger tore up the Single-A Northwest League earlier this season to earn a promotion to Double-A.

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In 67 games in High-A Everett, Montes hit .268 with .959 OPS and 35 extra-base hits. He was promoted to Double-A on June 24, yet his 18 home runs in High-A still lead the Northwest League.

Montes is batting .247 with a .926 OPS and nine extra-base hits in 20 games with Arkansas since his promotion. His six home runs since his promotion are only one shy of the Texas League lead during that span.

He is also third in all of the minor leagues this season with 24 home runs across all levels.

Montes participated in his first All-Star Futures Games, which features MLB’s top prospects, earlier this month in Atlanta.

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