Seattle’s top sailor prospect continues to earn accolades

SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners will have a month to closely watch postseason baseball before the offseason officially begins.

T-Mobile Park and Pacific Northwest will miss baseball in October for the 22nd time in 23 years, and based on recent statements from Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto, changes to the team could be made once the off-season officially begins season the next day, the World Series.

And while Seattle fans are probably tired of hearing this, the future looks bright for T-Mobile Park. Especially if you look at the franchise farm system.

The Mariners have arguably the best collection of prospects in all of baseball, with eight players listed in Baseball America’s top 100 prospects, the most in the league.

On Saturday, Seattle took some time before its penultimate game of the year against the Oakland Athletics to honor many of its prospects.

Lazaro Montes was named Ken Griffey Jr. Hitter of the Year, Brandyn Garcia and Michael Morales were named Jamie Moyer co-Hitter of the Year, Colt Emerson won the Alvin Davis “Mr. Mariners,” Curtis Washington won the Dan Wilson Community Service Award, Michael Arroyo won the Edgar Martinez “Dominate the Zone” tournament award, Tyler Cleveland won the “Dominate the Zone” tournament award and Double-A Arkansas Travelers pitching coach Michael Peoples was named named Dave Henderson’s Staff Member of the Year.

“I feel like I’ve implemented everything – all the failures I’ve learned and what I’ve learned from them – this year,” Montes said in an interview Saturday through a translator. “And not only for me. I feel like I was able to share some of that knowledge with some of my team members. (If) they were having problems and I had experience with it, I would just give them (advice) and make them better.”

All of these candidates and several others were at T-Mobile Park on Saturday to talk to the media and fans and engage with major league players and coaches. But that’s not the end of the honors, at least for some future sailors.

MLB released its minor league award list on Monday, and Montes and Arroyo got a few more feathers in their caps.

In addition to being named runner-up for Breakout Player of the Year, Montes was named All-MiLB First Team as one of three outfielders. He ranks third in Seattle and 45th in all of major league baseball, according to MLB Pipeline.

Arroyo, who is ranked the Mariners’ No. 12 prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 95 by Baseball America, was named to the All-MiLB Second Team.

Arroyo has proven to be an incredible prospect this season, and he has good defense as well. However, Montes has had high expectations since signing with the Cuba franchise in 2022.

These expectations are not limited to the hopes that fans and the organization have for Montes, but they are expectations that he has for himself. In fact, one goal he has on his account could create an interesting rivalry between him and the face of the team, Julio Rodriguez.

“I dream of playing as a center back,” Montes said. “This is my goal. And I really feel like you’re not only winning… on offense, but also being on defense, helping my pitchers. That’s why I’m putting so much emphasis on it (this year). … I think it would be cool to just compete and share knowledge with each other, but overall it will be fun to compete with him.

Almost on cue, Rodriguez walked out of the clubhouse while Montes was being interviewed in the dugout. He and Montes exchanged a few smiling words in their native Spanish while Rodriguez headed to the field to do some pre-match work.

The Mariners have multiple prospects in the farm system who could make an impact as early as 2025. And if even half of the highly touted players pan out, Seattle will be in good shape for the future.

THE BEST MARINER PROSPECTS IMPRESS DURING THE TITLE RUNS: The Seattle Mariners’ Double-A club, the Arkansas Travelers, became the second minor league club to win the championship this season; and two of the team’s leading players shined in the victory. CLICK HERE

TRAVELERS WIN TEXAS LEAGUE TITLE: The Arkansas Travelers became the second Seattle Mariners minor league team to win the championship this season. CLICK HERE

MARINERS LOW-A CLUB WINS CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS: The Modesto Nuts, the Seattle Mariners Low-A affiliate, won their second consecutive California League championship in dramatic fashion on Wednesday. CLICK HERE

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