I’m A Winner” | Braden Montgomery To The Boston Red Sox Seemed Inevitable. And It Was With The No.12 Overall Pick

I’m A Winner” | Braden Montgomery To The Boston Red Sox Seemed Inevitable. And It Was With The No.12 Overall Pick

The 2024 MLB Draft has come and gone, and it’s safe to say that most analysts predicted that the Boston Red Sox would take Texas A&M star Braden Montgomery.

 

That’s exactly what Red Sox brass did with their first-round pick and No.12 overall.

 

The talented 21-year-old began his college career at Stanford before transferring to College Station. He is known for his powerful bat and strong throwing arm, one that makes him an ideal right fielder at the major league level. But he’s viewed as someone who can play all over the outfield.

 

The 6-foot-2 and 220-pound Montgomery was the No.8 ranked prospect heading into the draft, but he slipped a bit after a late-season broken ankle. In many ways the Red Sox are getting a steal landing such a talented player with twelfth overall pick.

 

Oakland A’s Passed On Montgomery At No. 4

 

Prior to the draft the Oakland Athletics were reportedly leaning heavily toward taking him No.4 overall, but decided against it after the ankle injury.

 

 

Montgomery Is A Winner

 

Born in Iowa, but raised in Mississippi, Montgomery spent his first two seasons at Stanford before helping lead the Aggies to the College World Series losing in three games to the Christian Moore-led Tennessee Volunteers who went No.8 to the Los Angeles Angels.

 

During a zoom with Boston reporters following his selection, Montgomery let it be known what type of player the Red Sox were getting with him.

 

“They’re getting a winner that impacts everyone around them. I like to be loud with high energy and good vibes. I like to have fun. No one wants to be somewhere when people are dragging around and not enjoying themselves. I’m a winner and I’m gonna create a winning culture wherever I’m at.”

 

 

Montgomery Joins A Talented Red Sox Farm System

 

If there’s one thing the Red Sox have done, it’s stockpiled plenty of talent and Montgomery adds to that. In three seasons of college ball, he proved that he’s definitely one of the most talented players in this draft.

The switch-hitting maestro hit 62 homers, 44 doubles, and four triples over 187 career games. He batted .317 with a .428 on-base percentage, a .646 slugging percentage and a 1.073 OPS over that timeframe. That includes 27 homers, 14 doubles and a triple in his lone season in College Station. But it was his .733 slugging percentage and a 1.187 OPS over 61 games that stood out.

 

Montgomery’s Days On The Mound Are Likely Over

 

In all three of his collegiate seasons, Montgomery also took the mound as a pitcher, but he also saw his strikeout rate decline from (26.6 as a freshman to 20.0 as a junior).

 

2021 MLB Draft Gems | The Black Shohei Ohtani Is High School Phenom Braden Montgomery

 

Most of the success he had on the mound came early in his career, which he struck out 47 batters, but also issued 32 walks in just over 32 innings as a reliever.

Texas A&M Lands Coveted Stanford Transfer Braden Montgomery | The Two-Way Star Is The 10th-Ranked Prospect In The 2024 MLB Draft

His 8.54 ERA didn’t help matters, and once he transferred to Texas A&M he only saw action on the mound in two games.

 

His pitching prowess which saw him hit 97-98 MPH with his fastball is a huge reason why his throwing arm from the outfield is so strong. That allows him the versatility to be used at any of the three outfield spots.

 

Per team reports Montgomery and the Red Sox are in agreement on his contract and a signing and team presser are set to happen this coming weekend.

“Things Are Going Great” | 2024 MLB Draft Top 10 Prospect Braden Montgomery Has Helped The Texas A&M Aggies To No.1 Ranking

“Things Are Going Great” | 2024 MLB Draft Top 10 Prospect Braden Montgomery Has Helped The Texas A&M Aggies To No.1 Ranking

The Texas A&M Aggies are absolutely loaded, but the straw that stirs the proverbial drink down in College Station is highly-regarded transfer Braden Montgomery.

 

The dynamic two-way star who plays the outfield and pitches for the top-ranked Aggies is the No.10 ranked prospect ahead of this summer’s MLB Draft. While Montgomery has shown promise on the mound, the 6-foot-2 power hitter is likely to play the outfield at the next level.

 

Texas A&M Lands Coveted Stanford Transfer Braden Montgomery | The Two-Way Star Is The 10th-Ranked Prospect In The 2024 MLB Draft

 

The former Stanford Cardinals star who belted 35 homers in two seasons out in Palo Alto, also demonstrated a unique ability on the mound flashing a 96-MPH fastball and deceptive slider.

 

But Montgomery’s lack of control and command at times limited his effectiveness. Because of that he has a higher ceiling and floor in the outfield. Montgomery’s transfer to Texas A&M was one of the most talked about moves in all of college baseball, he joined an already loaded roster, but brings the stability and consistency the Aggies needed.

 

Montgomery Head Of Aggies Snake

 

The Aggies are currently the No.1 ranked team in college baseball, and despite their series loss to the No.18 Alabama Crimson Tide over the weekend, the Aggies are expected to remain the top team in the land at (35-5) overall and (13-5) in the land mine SEC. Montgomery’s numbers speak for themselves.

 

The talented outfielder boasts a .376 batting average to go along with 22 home runs and 67 RBI. He’s also accounted for 50 runs and 56 hits in 149 plate appearances. Even more impressive is his 41 walks versus his 30 strikeouts, which is unheard of in the SEC. He’s also pitched pretty well sporting a solid (28-to-33 K/BB) for a pitching staff that ranks second in the country in ERA.

 

Montgomery, who’s still banking on heading back to Stanford to get his degree after being drafted, recently sat down with the Pipeline Podcast to discuss his new digs and the 2024 season.

 

“Things are going great. The guys on the team are unbelievable to be around and it just makes it that much easier to play with them. They like to enjoy themselves and they like to keep it loose. I think that’s a big reason why we’ve been able to do what we do and stick to our process.”

 

Montgomery Sees Huge Difference In Talent In SEC

 

A huge reason for Montgomery transferring from Stanford was to have an opportunity to face stiffer competition. The mighty SEC is that and then some with four of the last five College World Series winners coming from the conference. Montgomery knows there’s talent all around college baseball, but as he told the Pipeline Podcast it’s different in the SEC.   

 

2021 MLB Draft Gems | The Black Shohei Ohtani Is High School Phenom Braden Montgomery

 

 

“Obviously in any conference, you can find superstars of guys that are standouts and really good, but it’s hard to find holes in the lineups we play against each weekend just because the teams have so much depth,” Montgomery said. “That’s kind of the difference I’ve seen between that and in the years prior that I’ve played. But I think it’s huge for getting ready to enter pro ball. Just having not only to get past a starter, but to get past all the really good arms in the pen.”

 

True statement by Montgomery, but his Aggies team hasn’t had much resistance, yet this season as evidenced by their record and national ranking. Now the goal is to cap it off with a CWS title, and then seeing Montgomery go in the top ten of July’s MLB Draft.

Texas A&M Lands Coveted Stanford Transfer Braden Montgomery | The Two-Way Star Is The 10th-Ranked Prospect In The 2024 MLB Draft

Texas A&M Lands Coveted Stanford Transfer Braden Montgomery | The Two-Way Star Is The 10th-Ranked Prospect In The 2024 MLB Draft

Former Stanford Cardinals outfielder and right-handed pitcher Braden Montgomery has landed at Texas A&M.

 

The two-way star was the top-rated transfer in the portal, and for the Aggies to land such a talent is huge news, not only in the SEC but in all of college baseball. Montgomery surprisingly entered the portal last month. Being that he’s from Mississippi many believed the Ole Miss Rebels or Mississippi State Bulldogs had the inside track. He chose to head to College Station over numerous other programs.

 

 

2021 MLB Draft Gems | The Black Shohei Ohtani Is High School Phenom Braden Montgomery

 

 

Montgomery was a star in his two season out in Palo Alto, batting .315 with 35 homers and 118 RBI. His .461 on-base percentage and .603 slugging percentage ranked in the upper echelon of the Pac-12 conference.

 

During his true freshman season of 2022, Montgomery nearly claimed Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors batting .294 with 18 homers and 57 RBI. In that remarkable year, the frosh also had a .361 on-base percentage and .596 slugging percentage.

 

 

 

 

Montgomery Helped Cardinal Eliminate Aggies In Stanford Regional

 

Montgomery’s transfer has raised some eyebrows considering he was a huge reason why the Cardinal eliminated the Aggies in June. In the postseason series, Montgomery batted .462 (6-for-13) with one dinger and four RBI in the three-game series.

 

 

Montgomery is also a pitcher whose fastball touches nearly 100 MPH, and while he figures to be a corner outfielder at the MLB level, he does have a little bit of the Shohei Ohtani vibe to him as well, striking out 19 batters in 14 innings of work this past season.

 

 

 

 

 

Did Nolan Cain Play A Role In Montgomery Choosing The Aggies?

 

Last month, the Aggies promoted Nolan Cain to the role of associate head coach. Many believe that played a huge role in the Aggies landing Montgomery. Cain, who starred at LSU, helped continue the Tigers’ recruiting dominance.

Three of his last recruiting classes down on the Bayou ranked in the top five, before joining the Aggies two seasons ago. The results of his arrival have been felt immensely.

 

The 2023 Aggies won 38 games while making it to the SEC Championship before falling to eventual national champion LSU. And since Schlossnagle’s arrival in 2022, the Aggies have series wins over 11 of the 13 SEC teams. They also have 14 total series wins, tied with LSU and Florida for most in the conference over that timeframe.

 

Head coach Jim Schlossnagle raved about Cain when the announcement was made.

 

“Nolan has been the glue to our program over the past two years and especially over the past few weeks,” Schlossnagle said. “He has more than earned this promotion and has continued to prove his incredible value both on the field and on the recruiting trail. We are excited to have Nolan and his family in Aggieland for a long time.”

 

 

Cain has also played a role in seven former players being taken in the MLB Draft since 2017, but none are as talented as Montgomery.

2021 MLB Draft Gems | The Black Shohei Ohtani Is High School Phenom Braden Montgomery

2021 MLB Draft Gems | The Black Shohei Ohtani Is High School Phenom Braden Montgomery

Major League Baseball’s 65th-ranked  prospect Braden Montgomery is attending the MLB Draft combine this week in Cary, North Carolina, with intentions of showcasing his talents in front of scouts and team executives just days ahead of the 2021 MLB draft.

The University of Stanford commit is a 6’2 201-pound switch-hitting positional player and a right-handed pitcher out of Madison Central High School. Reports indicate that the 18-year-old phenom is the only coveted high school player in the draft, but he also classifies as the highest-ranked high school player in Mississippi.

 

 

Montgomery has a smooth feel at the plate, and his bat has a lot of pop to it. As mentioned earlier, the kid has superior contact on both sides of the dish, but he seems more comfortable from the right side. 

Furthermore, Montgomery has poise in the batters’ box with well-grounded balance, control, and exceptional vision as he can spray the ball across all parts of the diamond.

In the field of play, projections indicate that Montgomery will be a top-ten outfielder with a dynamic arm at either corner position. He displayed that laser during an event earlier this year as he recorded numerous 99 miles per hour missiles from the warning track.

 

 

The mound is a different story for the young sensation.

Montgomery has a three-pitch arsenal in his weaponry that continuously pops the catcher’s glove. The kid has a consistent 93 mph fastball that peaks at 96, while his curveball leaves batters weak in the knees and complements his heater, and the movement on his changeup is extraterrestrial 

 

 

These are great signs as he is only 18 years old, so his power and speed will come into effect as he continues to fill out into his man-body.

 

When asked about which position, he prefers better, Montgomery told MLB Central, ” I hear scouts say they want me as both, and I also hear guys say they want me as one or the other as I just want to do both.” 

 

He went on to say, “I picked up pitching more recently, but I’ve always been a hitter. So, there are some days where maybe I’ll turn out a poor pitching performance, but I’ll hit well and feel like I won’t have to pitch anymore or turn out a really good pitching performance, and I don’t hit well at all. So, I enjoy them both.”

 

This decision can bring generational wealth for the Montgomery family, depending upon how he does this week in the Draft Combine

“We are looking for the life-changing opportunity and obviously going to Stanford, that’s pretty high up on the board. But, looking for the draft has always been my dream since elementary school,” the future MLBbro said.” So, whichever opportunity presents itself as a better opportunity, that’s the one I’ll be going for.”

Montgomery seems like a really polished and very enlightened young kid. The salvo of talent and intelligence a student-athlete must portray, especially to have the Stanford Cardinals baseball scholarship in his back pocket, is astonishing.

Whatever decision he and his family land upon will be the right choice as variety is the spice of life. Whichever path he chooses, we at MLBbro.com will be rooting for him.