2 top Seattle Mariners prospects shine in 2025 season debuts

Highly touted Seattle Mariners prospect Felnin Celesten went 2 for 4 with two singles, two RBIs and a stolen base in his full-season pro debut with Low-A Modesto in the Nuts’ season opener Friday night.

Another Mariners prospect moves into Baseball America’s Top 100

Celesten, a 19-year-old switch-hitting shortstop, began his night in the first inning with an opposite-field single to right field. In the third inning, he grounded an RBI single into left field, stole second base and then came round to score. He then added an RBI groundout in the fifth.

Celesten, who has legitimate five-tool potential, is MLB Pipeline’s No. 72 overall prospect and Baseball America’s No. 86 overall prospect. He signed with the Mariners for $4.7 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2023, which was the largest international bonus signing Seattle has ever made, according to Baseball America.

Celesten’s first two pro seasons have been marred by injuries. He missed the entire 2023 season with a hamstring strain and then had his 2024 campaign cut short with a wrist injury that required surgery.

But when healthy, Celesten has been impressive. In the Arizona Complex League last year, he batted .352/.431/.568 with three homers, four triples, 10 doubles, five stolen bases and a .999 OPS in 32 games.

Power-hitting lefty slugger Lazaro Montes, another top Mariners prospect, also had a strong 2025 debut on Friday night. In his first at-bat of the season, Montes blasted an opposite-field solo home run over the left-field fence in High-A Everett’s opener. The 20-year-old outfielder reached base in all four plate appearances, finishing 2 for 2 with a homer, a single, two walks and a stolen base.

The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Montes is MLB Pipeline’s No. 41 overall prospect and Baseball America’s No. 95 overall prospect. Last year, he hit .288/.397/.484 with 21 homers, two triples, 21 doubles and an .881 OPS over 66 games with Low-A Modesto and 51 games with High-A Everett.

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