Lázaro Montes, hailing from Havana, had a debut that dreams are made of. On Tuesday, in his first Major League Baseball game, the 21-year-old outfielder hit a home run, becoming the youngest player in Seattle Mariners' history to achieve this feat during his debut. The Mariners triumphed over the Boston Red Sox with a 9-6 victory at Fenway Park.
The Mariners celebrated this remarkable moment on social media, featuring an emotional Montes with his family, expressing gratitude to God for his success. "Thank God I did well, thank God for everything," Montes said in the video.
The homer came in the fifth inning off reliever Wyatt Olds. Montes launched an 86.5 mph slider 407 feet into center field, with a 106 mph exit velocity according to Statcast.
With this impressive hit, Montes became only the sixth player in the team's history to homer in an MLB debut, joining the ranks of Jamie Nelson (1983), Alvin Davis (1984), Greg Dobbs (2004), Kenji Johjima (2006), and Kyle Lewis (2019).
But his age set the most striking record: at 21 years and 314 days, Montes is the youngest Mariner to hit a home run in his first Major League game.
The Cuban's entire night was outstanding. In his first at-bat, he drew a walk and scored on a three-run homer by fellow Cuban Randy Arozarena. In the third inning, he recorded his first MLB hit and RBI with a single to right field.
Montes finished his debut with a 2-for-4 line, including a home run, one RBI, two runs scored, and a walk, making him the first Mariner since Ichiro Suzuki in 2001 to have multiple hits in his MLB debut.
After the game, a reunion with his family was captured in another team-released video. "God never abandons us. Thank you, Lord, I swear I said it, thank you, Beloved Father," expressed a tearful family member. The Mariners summed it up with a phrase: "Family is everything."
Montes arrived in the MLB following a historic minor league season: 38 home runs, 96 RBIs, 99 runs scored, and an OPS of .927 over 123 games between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma.
The number 38 holds special significance: on August 31, just one day before his debut, Montes broke the Cuban record for home runs in a minor league season, surpassing Juan Francisco "Pancho" Herrera's record of 37 set in 1959 with the Buffalo Bisons.
The left-handed power hitter, born in Havana on October 22, 2004, signed with Seattle in January 2022, with a $2.5 million bonus, and accumulated 114 home runs in his minor league career before reaching the majors.
With just one game at the top level, Montes has already etched his name in the Mariners' history books.
FAQs About Lázaro Montes' Historic MLB Debut
How did Lázaro Montes perform in his first MLB game?
In his debut, Lázaro Montes went 2-for-4 with a home run, one RBI, two runs scored, and a walk, making a significant impact on the game.
What record did Lázaro Montes set with the Mariners?
Montes became the youngest player in Seattle Mariners' history to hit a home run in his MLB debut, at just 21 years and 314 days old.
What was significant about Lázaro Montes' minor league season before his MLB debut?
Montes had a standout minor league season with 38 home runs, breaking a Cuban record, and had a .927 OPS over 123 games, showcasing his power and potential.