PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Cuban native Lazaro Montes writes about his growth and his mistakes in a new journal every year.
With each page, he moves a little closer to the majors.
Montes is part of a rich Seattle farm system, and the 20-year-old outfielder is showing off his progress in big league camp at the start of spring training. It’s a chance for Montes to work alongside Julio Rodríguez and the rest of the Mariners before likely moving over to the minor league group.
“He loves the game. He loves being around the game,” Seattle manager Dan Wilson said Sunday. “And that’s the type of attitude that’s pretty contagious. His energy’s contagious, and you just love being around it.”
Montes agreed to a $2.5 million bonus when he signed with Seattle in January 2022 as an international amateur free agent. He started writing in a journal after he joined the organization.
Montes agreed to a $2.5 million bonus when he signed with Seattle in January 2022 as an international amateur free agent. He started writing in a journal after he joined the organization.
“I saw some major leaguers doing that, and when we had meetings, it was something that they suggested to us, you know, something that we could do,” Montes said through a translator. “And I just ended up trying it, and it worked for me.”
Montes is regarded as one of the team’s top prospects after he batted .288 with 21 homers and 105 RBIs over two minor league stops last year. But he also struck out 128 times in 116 games.
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