Another prospect who could help the Mariners this season

Two of the Seattle Mariners’ most highly regarded prospects recently moved one step closer to realizing their dreams of being major league players.

The Mariners promoted outfielder Lazaro Montes and left fielder/second baseman Michael Arroyo from Double-A Arkansas to Triple-A Tacoma on Monday.

Mariners prospect Lazaro Montes makes 2 web gems in Tacoma

Montes, a left-handed-hitting slugger who is fourth in the minor leagues with 25 homers this season, is Seattle’s No. 3 prospect and No. 26 in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. Arroyo, a right-handed bat with an .839 OPS this year, is the organization’s fourth-ranked prospect and No. 43 across the league.

Could either end up making their time in Tacoma a quick stop and help the Mariners make a push for the playoffs down the stretch in 2026? Over-Slot Baseball’s Joe Doyle broke down which of the two has the clearest path to helping the M’s this season when he joined host Curtis Rogers the most recent edition of Extra Innings on Seattle Sports.

“I think the path for Michael Arroyo is a lot more straightforward than what Laz Montes is looking at,” Doyle said. “I mean, Seattle has been looking for a right-handed hitting – essentially a guy that can play anywhere on the field at this point that’s right-handed. I think with the struggles of Rob Refsnyder, there’s obviously a fit for someone that can hit lefties off the bench that can play the outfield.”

The 21-year-old Arroyo has consistently hit during his time in Seattle’s farm system. He had an OPS over .800 in each of four previous minor league seasons. He’s also reached double-digit home run totals each year since 2024, including slugging a career-best 23 homers in 120 games across Single-A and High-A in ’24.

In 68 games across Double-A and Triple-A this year, Arroyo is batting .290 with an .839 OPS, 11 homers and 13 doubles. He slugged his first Triple-A home run on Thursday night during a three-hit game.

The Cartagena, Colombia, native has fared a bit better against right-handed pitching this year, but his numbers against left-handers are still solid with a .289 average, .794 OPS and three homers in 83 at-bats.

Arroyo would also bring some positional versatility to the M’s with this ability to play left field and second base.

Doyle mentioned he thinks outfielder and former top prospect Brennan Davis, a spring training standout, would get an opportunity with the big league club before Arroyo if healthy.

“But with Randy Arozarena probably leaving the team after the 2026 season, there is going to be a void in left field, there’s going to be a void for a right-handed bat,” Doyle said. “I think this could be a showcase for Michael Arroyo, and I do think there’s at least a chance that Michael Arroyo could see Seattle in a month and a half if he really tears up Tacoma.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player in this story. Catch Extra Innings on Seattle Sports 710 AM from 7-9 p.m. on off days during the baseball season. 

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