MLB Draft: Red Sox select hitting outfielder in first round Originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Red Sox added another big hitter to their roster with their first-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.
With the 12th overall pick, the Red Sox Texas A&M drafted outfielder Braden MontgomeryThe 21-year-old posted a .322/.454/.733 batting average with 27 homers and 85 RBIs in 67 games last season for the Aggies.
This is the seventh consecutive year the Red Sox have selected a position player with their first pick.
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Montgomery is a switch-hitting hitter with great power. He has a strong arm in the outfield and also had plenty of experience as a pitcher during his college career at Stanford and Texas A&M.
Here is a detailed explanation MLB.com Scouting Reportwho ranked Montgomery as their No. 8 overall prospect:
“Montgomery had more of a hitting-over-power profile in high school, but that has reversed in college. A switch-hitter with strength and a quick, aggressive swing from both sides of the plate, he does more damage as a left-handed hitter and his power shows in all parts of the ballpark. He has improved his plate discipline and ability to handle breaking balls over the past two seasons, but he still too often misses pitches in the zone and chases balls that aren’t fast..
“With average speed and above-average arm strength, Montgomery is best suited in right field. As a pitcher, he can reach 96 mph with his fastball and make some hitters miss with his 80 mph slider and 80 mph changeup. However, his lack of control and command limit his effectiveness, and he has a much higher ceiling and floor as an outfielder.
Montgomery suffered a broken ankle in the Aggies’ super regional opener against Oregon. After being drafted by Boston, he said the injury would not be a long-term issue.
Montgomery fractured his ankle on June 8 and has been wearing a boot and riding a scooter to keep weight off of it, but he said he has mostly stopped using the scooter. It is not considered a major problem going forward.
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) July 15, 2024
The Red Sox will again pick at No. 50 in the second round. Rounds 3-10 will take place Monday at 2 p.m. ET, followed by Rounds 11-20 at the same time on Tuesday.
