Red Sox 'getting a winner' in prospect Braden Montgomery
The Red Sox farm system is already loaded with high-end positional player talent, and the organization added another big piece on Sunday night. Boston selected switch-hitting outfielder Braden Montgomery with the 12th pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.
Montgomery, who attended Texas A&M, is rehabbing a broken right ankle he sustained while playing in the NCAA Super Regional against Oregon. There’s a chance his injury was the reason he slipped out of the top-10 and into the Red Sox’ laps.
The 21-year-old was ranked as the No. 8 prospect heading into the draft, according to MLB Pipeline.
After the commissioner announced the Red Sox selection, Montgomery, who was in Fort Worth, Texas, for the draft, rode on one knee on a scooter in his new white Red Sox jersey.
“It was joy,” Montgomery said. “To be picked by anybody today means a lot to me and my family. For it to be the Red Sox means a whole lot, so I’m excited to get to work.”
Montgomery wasn’t the only one excited about being selected; Red Sox director of amateur scouting Devin Pearson was also fired up at the chance to select the talented outfielder.
“There's always surprises in the draft and the way it works in baseball, and we were really excited that he was there for us and happy we were able to make it work,” said Pearson. “And we just couldn't be more fired up to bring him into the organization.”
Montgomery played two seasons at Stanford before transferring to Texas A&M for his third and final season. He has an impressive junior season in 2024, hitting .322/.454/.733 while balancing out a slightly high 20 percent strikeout rate with an 18 percent walk rate.
“We see a really athletic, switch-hitting outfielder with the ability to drive the ball out of the ballpark from both sides,” said Pearson. “[He makes] elite swing decisions and [is] just a guy that really fits our development philosophies and chance to continue to develop.”
The Red Sox have been scouting Montgomery since his high school days at Madison Central High School in Mississippi.
“We were enamored by him then and then got to follow his career to Stanford and [then Texas A&M],” said Pearson. “He had a huge year in the SEC, and we believe he has even more development left. His skill set fits perfectly into what we are trying to do here.
“We see a really athletic outfielder with the ability to drive the ball out of the ballpark from both sides,” said Pearson. “Elite swing decisions and a guy that really fits our development philosophies, with a chance to continue to develop with all the things that we do at the Minor League level.”
Montgomery brought energy to his Zoom call with reporters following the draft, and in the process, he detailed the type of player the organization will be getting on and off the field.
“They’re getting a winner that impacts everyone around them,” Montgomery said. “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 going to create a winning culture wherever I’m at.”
