Mariners extra: Lazaro Montes named organization’s minor-league hitter of the year

In our Sunday inside baseball page, we review the week that was, highlighting key trends with the Mariners and ranking the top teams around the league.

Stat of the Week

3.39

The Mariners starting rotation leads the majors with a 3.39 ERA and is trying to set the franchise record for lowest starting pitcher ERA, held by the 2014 rotation (3.48).

Who’s Hot

Alberto Rodriguez singled to drive in Cole Young and send the Arkansas Travelers, the Mariners’ Class AA affiliate, to a 5-4 walkoff victory over Midland in the Texas League championship game on Wednesday, the first league title for the Travelers since 2008. Young had two hits and two walks, and third baseman Ben Williamson had three hits and three RBI. Starting pitcher Logan Evans allowed one run over six sharp innings, with two walks and nine strikeouts to cap a strong first full professional season for the Mariners’ top pitching prospect.

Who’s Not (in?)

The National League wild-card race is so tight it looks like it’ll need an extra day — and two more games — to determine which final teams get in the postseason. The Mets and Braves have a scheduled doubleheader Monday in Atlanta after two of their midweek games were postponed because of Hurricane Helene. The Diamondbacks, Mets and Braves came into Saturday in a virtual three-way tie for the final two wild-card spots (the Padres have already locked up the No. 1 wild-card spot) and those final two spots figure to come down to the Monday’s doubleheader, with all of the wild card series set to start Tuesday.

Prospect Watch

Lazaro Montes, the Mariners’ 19-year-old Cuban slugger, has been named the Ken Griffey Jr. Hitter of the Year for the second year in a row, the club announced as part of its minor-league awards Saturday.

Montes, 6-foot-5 and some 250 pounds, hit .288 with 21 doubles, two triples, 21 home runs, 105 RBI, 78 walks, a .397 on-base percentage and an .881 OPS in 116 games between Low-A Modesto and High-A Everett this season.

Baseball American ranks Montes as the No. 41 prospect in its Top 100 list (No. 2 in Seattle’s system).

Left-hander Brandyn Garcia and right-hander Michael Morales were named the Mariners’ Jamie Moyer Co-Pitchers of the Year.

Garcia, 24, went 6-2 with a 2.25 ERA, 47 walks and 134 strikeouts over 116 innings between Everett and Class AA Arkansas this season.

Morales, 22, went 13-2 with a 3.02 ERA, 38 walks and 147 strikeouts in 149 innings between Everett and Arkansas.

The Mariners’ top prospect, 19-year-old shortstop Colt Emerson, won the Alvin Davis “Mr. Mariner” Award.

Other award-winners:

• Curtis Washington, OF, Dan Wilson Community Service Award
• Michael Arroyo, INF, Edgar Martinez “Dominate The Zone” Tournament Award (Hitter)
• Tyler Cleveland, RHP, “Dominate The Zone” Tournament Award (Pitcher)
• Michael Peoples, P Coach, Dave Henderson Staff Member of the Year

Ex-Mariner of the Week

Jarred Kelenic entered the final weekend of his first season in Atlanta with a slash line of .229/.284/.392 (.676 OPS) with 15 homers, 44 RBI in 130 games. His numbers have dropped almost across the board from his last season with the Mariners in 2023, posting an 85 wRC+ (100 being average) and a 0.4 fWAR in Atlanta.

MLB playoff predictions

From Times reporters Ryan Divish and Adam Jude, and columnist emeritus Larry Stone:

Ryan Divish

ALDS: Astros over Guardians; Yankees over Tigers
ALCS: Astros over Yankees
NLDS: Phillies over Braves; Dodgers over Padres
NLCS: Phillies over Dodgers

World Series: Phillies over Astros

Adam Jude

ALDS: Guardians over Royals; Yankees over Tigers
ALCS: Guardians over Yankees
NLDS: Phillies over Brewers; Padres over Dodgers
NLCS: Padres over Phillies

World Series: Padres over Guardians

Larry Stone

ALDS: Astros over Guardians; Tigers over Yankees
ALCS: Tigers over Astros.
NLDS: Phillies over Mets, Padres over Dodgers
NLCS: Padres over Phillies

World Series: Padres over Tigers (revenge for 1984)