One of the top prospects in the organization complimented one of his teammates and fellow elite minor leaguer

SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners' farm system's success was recognized on one of the most iconic days in recent franchise history.

Hours before the Mariners clinched a postseason berth with a 4-3 win against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday at T-Mobile Park, the M's recognized the recipients of their annual minor league awards.

One of those award-winners was outfielder Lazaro Montes, who was named the Ken Griffey Jr. Hitter of the Year for the second season in a row.

The 20-year-old Montes (No. 28 MLB Pipeline top 100, No. 34 Baseball America top 100) scored 76 times in 131 games across stints with the High-A Everett AquaSox and Double-A Arkansas Travelers. He hit 19 doubles, seven triples and 32 home runs with 89 RBIs and slashed .241/.354/.504 with an .858 OPS.

Montes spent a large part of his season playing with other highly-regarded prospects, including the recipient of the Mr. Mariner Alvin Davis award, shortstop Colt Emerson (No. 11 MLB Pipeline, No. 12 Baseball America).

Emerson (also 20-years-old) was unable to be in attendance Tuesday at T-Mobile Park due to being on the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers roster. He was promoted from Double-A to Triple-A on Sept. 16. The Rainiers are in the middle of the best-of-three Pacific Coast League Championship Series against the Las Vegas Aviators. Tacoma lost 7-1 on Tuesday.

Emerson is almost universally considered the No. 1 prospect in Seattle's farm system. Montes has played with the shortstop at several minor league levels, and offered first-hand praise of the current Triple-A competitor.

"He's amazing," Montes said Tuesday. " ... He's talented. He's (very, very) good at everything he (does). At shortstop, when he hits. He's doing everything. He's stolen bases more than last year. He's doing everything I can't wait to play with him another year."

Across 130 games played with the Everett, Arkansas and Tacoma, Emerson has scored 82 runs and has hit 28 doubles, six triples and 16 home runs with 78 RBIs. He's stolen 14 bases in 19 attempts and has slashed .285/.383/.458 with an .841 OPS. His doubles, triples, homers, RBIs and runs are all career-highs. His games played are more than 2023-24 combined (94).

Emerson and Montes both were non-roster invites to spring training this season, and that will be the case again in 2026. Emerson and Montes are both projected for a '26 call-up, according to MLB Pipeline.