Michael Arroyo hasn’t drawn quite as much attention as fellow Seattle Mariners prospect and Arkansas Travelers teammate Lazaro Montes this season. After all, Montes has put on an eye-catching power display, clubbing the second-most home runs in the entire minor leagues.

But in many ways, Arroyo has compiled an equally impressive 2025.

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Arroyo, a 20-year-old Colombian infielder, has slashed .276/.422/.515 with 17 home runs, one triple and 18 doubles across 80 games with High-A Everett and Double-A Arkansas this season. He has a .938 OPS, which ranks 23rd among all minor league players at High-A or above. That’s not far behind the 20-year-old Montes, who ranks 12th with a .971 OPS.

As a result, Seattle Sports’ Mike Salk calls Arroyo’s ascent as the best story in the Mariners’ farm system this year.

“You probably want to think that answer is Laz Montes, and you could make a reasonable argument,” Salk said during a special baseball-themed Blue 88 segment on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk. “He’s been a revelation with the power. But I think my answer is slightly less-touted Michael Arroyo. He has been right there with Laz.”

Red-hot in Arkansas

Arroyo, a top-100 prospect according to both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline, spent his first 65 games of the season at Everett, where he batted .269 with 15 homers, 14 doubles and a .934 OPS.

Since earning a late-June promotion, he’s put up even better numbers in the pitcher-friendly Texas League. Through his first 15 games at Arkansas, he’s hitting .309 with two homers, one triple, four doubles and a .954 OPS. Along the way, he’s cut his strikeout rate from 21% in Everett to just 10% in Arkansas.

Even more impressive: at age 20, both Arroyo and Montes are 2 years younger than the average High-A Northwest League hitter and more than 4 years younger than the average Double-A Texas League hitter.

“From what I understand, the biggest jump in (baseball) is from Triple-A to the big leagues,” Salk said. “They say the difference between Low-A and Triple-A is not as large as the difference between Triple-A and the big leagues. That’s how big a difference it is.

“But the second-biggest jump is from High-A to Double-A. And for these two guys – specifically Arroyo – to come up and do what he’s done? Super impressive. And probably the best story right now in the Mariners’ minor leagues.”

Tune into Brock and Salk weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

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