The Seattle Mariners prospects were recognized on multiple fronts on Monday night.
Congratulations are in order for Seattle Mariners youngsters Kade Anderson and Lazaro Montes, who received different forms of recognition on Monday, one day after the end of a disappointing regular season that saw the team go 76-86 and finish third in the American League West.
For Anderson, he was named the Minor League Pitcher of the Year by Baseball America. He also earned the Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Debut of the Year and All-MiLB First-Team Honors from MLB Pipeline.
For Montes, he is officially the co-owner of the longest home run in the big leagues this year, tying with Fernando Tatis Jr. at 474 feet. It was his first home run at T-Mobile Park, and it was the furthest home run at the park in the Statcast Era.
About Anderson
The No. 3 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of LSU, Anderson tore through the minor leagues in his first professional season. A left-hander who is still just 22, he went 10-1 at Double-A Arkansas, pitching to a microscopic 1.06 ERA. He struck out 135 hitters in just 93.1 innings, showing impeccable control throughout the year.
He represented the Mariners at the Spring Breakout Game at spring training and also pitched for the Mariners in the MLB Futures Game over the All-Star break.
He was called up to the big leagues in August, making seven starts down the stretch and pitching to a 2-2 record with a 3.79 ERA. Despite questions about his velocity, he delivered a historic outing at Coors Field against the Rockies in his penultimate appearance.
He left his final start after getting hit on the arm by a line drive, but he is fine, luckily.
He'll enter 2027 with a likely rotation spot, though the Mariners do have six starting pitchers right now with Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryan Woo, Bryce Miller, Anderson and Emerson Hancock.
As for Montes
Montes, who just took home a prominent team-based minor league award, hit .249 between Double-A and Triple-A with 38 homers and 96 RBIs in just 123 games. One of the best pure sluggers in the sport, he was called up in September, hitting .212 with four homers and 11 RBIs in 52 at-bats.
His power is real, but so are his strikeout totals. He swings and misses a lot, and there are questions about his true future with the Mariners. Not seen as a great defender, can they afford to keep him in the lineup, likely taking up the DH spot?
It remains to be seen.
Of note
The latest 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast is out, reacting to the news of Dan Wilson's dismissal as Mariners manager. You can listen here, or you can watch in the YouTube player below.
