Lázaro Montes, a Cuban baseball player, made waves at Seattle's T-Mobile Park with an astounding 474-foot home run, setting a new benchmark for the stadium. This record-breaking hit marks the longest home run recorded in the venue since Statcast began tracking homers in 2015.
The 21-year-old from Havana, donning the Seattle Mariners jersey, unleashed a powerful swing against a 94.7 mph fastball from pitcher Cal Quantrill during the fourth inning, sending the ball soaring to right-center field at a blistering exit speed of 116.1 mph.
This three-run homer temporarily narrowed the Texas Rangers' lead to 4-3, although the visiting team ultimately claimed a 10-5 victory.
Historic Impact of Montes' Home Run
The significance of Montes' home run is multifaceted. Baseball analyst Francys Romero highlighted on social media that this blast is the longest of the 2026 Major League Baseball season, tying with one by Fernando Tatis Jr. It also stands as the longest hit by any Seattle Mariners player since 2015 and the longest ever recorded at T-Mobile Park in the Statcast era.
Previously, the record for the longest homer at the stadium was held by Mike Zunino with a 470-foot hit on June 29, 2018, a mark that stood for eight years before Montes shattered it.
Fernando Tatis Jr. had also achieved a 474-foot home run on July 21 at Atlanta's Truist Park during a San Diego Padres 8-3 win over the Braves. Now, both home runs share the top spot for the season.
Montes' Meteoric Rise in MLB
In the Mariners' Statcast era, Montes' home run ranks as the second-longest, surpassed only by Jarred Kelenic's colossal 482-foot shot at Wrigley Field in April 2023.
Adding to the impressiveness of Montes' feat is his brief career in Major League Baseball. He made his MLB debut on September 1 at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox, hitting a 407-foot home run in his first at-bat, becoming the youngest player in Mariners history to homer on debut at 21 years and 314 days.
In just 18 at-bats in the majors, the Cuban sensation has already notched two home runs and six RBIs, cementing his status as one of the most explosive breakout players in the season's final stretch.
Montes joined the Mariners in January 2022 as an international free agent with a signing bonus of $2.5 million. He ascended to the majors following a dominant minor league campaign, where he slugged 37 home runs, drove in 93 runs, and posted a .941 OPS, ranking him as the 43rd top prospect in baseball and third within the Mariners' system according to MLB Pipeline.
With just nine days in the big leagues, the young Cuban has already etched his name in the franchise's and league's historical records.
Lázaro Montes' Record-Breaking Home Run
What made Lázaro Montes' home run historic?
Lázaro Montes' home run was historic because it was the longest ever recorded at T-Mobile Park since Statcast started tracking in 2015. It tied for the longest of the 2026 MLB season and broke the previous stadium record held since 2018.
How has Montes performed since joining MLB?
Since joining MLB, Lázaro Montes has hit two home runs and driven in six runs in just 18 at-bats, showcasing his potential as a rising star in the league.
When did Montes join the Seattle Mariners?
Montes joined the Seattle Mariners in January 2022 as an international free agent, signing with a bonus of $2.5 million.