Outfielder and right-handed pitcher Braden Montgomery (6-2, 215) is one of the more elite two-way prospects eligible for the 2024 MLB Draft. He is a Future Stars Series alum having participated in multiple FSS events including the 2020 National Combine and the 2020 International Week (now the Main Event) showcase. Montgomery was a 2021 graduate of Madison Central High School in Madison, Mississippi and helped guide the school to a state championship and a No. 1 national ranking his senior season. Montgomery was the Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021 and a National High School All-American as well.
The tools were obvious. The makeup was evident. The development track was a certainty. That’s what big leaguers look like. — Jeremy Booth, Stars Series president of baseball operations, on Braden Montgomery as a prep prospect
Despite receiving first round grades from numerous publications and big league scouts, Montgomery went unselected in the 2021 MLB Draft as he preferred to honor his commitment to Stanford instead. After his sophomore season in 2023, he chose to transfer to Texas A&M where he will play his junior season in 2024.
Track Record
Give us Braden Montgomery from every angle ? pic.twitter.com/bzcTdOKCz8
— USA Baseball CNT (@USABaseballCNT) July 5, 2023
Montgomery immediately became a headliner in the Pac-12 for the Cardinal as a freshman. He played in 62 games in 2022 posting a .294/.361/.596 slash as a switch-hitter with 18 homers and six stolen bases. As if those numbers weren’t impressive enough, Montgomery pitched 18.2 innings for Stanford striking out 28 batters, touching 96 mph in a relief role.
He followed up his tremendous rookie season in college baseball by heading off to the Cape to play for Yarmouth-Dennis where he’d post a .250/.333/.500 slash with four homers in just 69 plate appearances.
Montgomery’s sophomore campaign was even more electric as he ran a .336/.461./.611 line with 17 homers in 64 games. He once again added six stolen bases. On the mound, Montgomery threw 14 innings and struck out 19 batters, though control and command woes limited his opportunities.
Montgomery will play the 2024 season at Texas A&M after transferring this past fall.
FSS Scouts had him up to 93 mph off the mound with a chance at two future big-league secondaries, and a slew of major-league grades as a hitter.
Tools
Few in the 2024 class can boast the tools Montgomery brings to the field.
Highlighted by a double-plus, maybe better, throwing arm, Montgomery is a prototype right fielder with solid average speed. He runs strong routes to the ball and possesses a high baseball IQ in the field.
Offensively it’s plus raw power from the left side and average power from the right. Montgomery is a better hitter as a lefty with healthy contact rates, an all-fields approach and solid average chase rates as well. He’s shown solid barrel awareness, strong hands and a willingness to let the ball travel. From the left side, it’s an average hit tool with the intent to do damage. Montgomery may ultimately elect to hit left-handed exclusively at the next level, though he’s shown flashes from the right side at the college level.
This is a player that can impact the game on both sides of the ball.
Draft Standing (Floor/Ceiling)
At time of publish, Montgomery is ranked No. 15 on the FSS PLUS Top 300 board for the 2024 MLB Draft. The tools, track record and personality all fit that of a future first-round outfielder. Should the hit tool take a step forward this spring, Montgomery has Top-5 upside.
What’s Next
Montgomery enters the 2024 season with a few things to clean up should he hope to see his name jump even higher up boards come July. Speaking exclusively on his ability to hit left-handed, his overall contact percentage sat at roughly 74% in 2023, a few percentage points lower than the national average for college baseball last season. His contact percentage on swings on pitches outside of the strike zone last season was just 38%. Finally, Montgomery’s contact percentage on “velocity” was a few ticks lower than the national average as well. Shoring up the overall bat-to-ball trends in 2024 would certainly help push his profile into the next tier. It’s Top-10 pick tools with some polish required around the edges.
Given Montgomery’s cerebral approach to the game and relentless curiosity on ways to improve, one would expect his game jumps into another gear this spring.
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