Could he continue to rocket through the Mariners’ minor league system after a breakout 2024, where he hit 21 homers with 105 RBIs in 117 games at the Class A levels? 

Montes followed up with 32 home runs and 89 RBIs in 131 games between High-A Everett and Double-A Arkansas. He hit .241/.354/.504 and set a new personal standard for home runs and also with 83 walks.

“He had a great year,” Mariners farm director Justin Toole said. “(Montes) kind of burst onto the scene these last couple of years with just the power, and the ball comes off his bat in a way that it doesn’t for many people in the game of baseball.”

Montes got off to a hot start for the AquaSox. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound lefthanded hitter led the Northwest League with 18 homers and 50 RBIs at the time he was promoted to Arkansas on June 23. 

Montes hit .216 with 14 homers and a .762 OPS at Double-A, but with a higher level of competition and the Travelers’ home being notoriously pitcher-friendly, Toole is happy with Montes’ results. 

“He’s taking everything serious and trying to find ways to continue to improve,” Toole said. “So as exciting as it is offensively, it’s a total package of a guy who wants to get out, get better and become a better baseball player, not just a hitter. And anytime you have that, it’s exciting.”

If he keeps producing early next year, fans might not have to wait long to see Montes.

“If he continues to develop and continue to do things the way that he’s done it, he’s going to put himself in a good spot,” Toole said. “And when that opportunity comes, you know, I’m pretty sure he’ll be ready to take advantage.”

Marinade

— Mariners top prospect Colt Emerson didn’t miss a beat after joining Double-A Arkansas on Aug. 3. After hitting .281 with an .842 OPS and 11 homers for High-A Everett, Emerson hit .282 with three homers in 34 games for the Travelers. The Mariners moved Emerson to Triple-A Tacoma on Sept. 15, putting him just a level away from Seattle. 

—Triple-A Tacoma third baseman Ben Williamson was named the Mariners’ minor league hitter of the month for August after hitting .378/.404/.489 in 20 games with 17 runs, seven doubles, four home runs and 23 RBIs. Williamson played 85 games for Seattle this season. 

— Righthander Christian Little was named the organization’s pitcher of the month for August. In four starts split between Low-A Modesto and High-A Everett, Little had a 1.15 ERA with 17 strikeouts and six walks, along with an .083 opponent average and a 0.64 WHIP. Seattle drafted Little in the 11th round in 2024 out of LSU.

— Low-A Modesto catcher Luke Stevenson hit the ground running after the Mariners drafted him in the supplemental first round this year out of North Carolina. In 22 games in the California League, Stevenson hit .280/.460/.400 with a home run, 23 walks and 19 strikeouts.