Braden Montgomery Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Braden Abraham Montgomery
Born 04/26/2003 in Des Moines, IA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 201 / Bats: S / Throws: R
School Madison Central
Drafted in the 1st round (12th overall) by the Boston Red Sox in 2024 (signed for $5,000,000).

View Draft Report

School: Texas A&M
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.2
BA Grade: 55/High
Tools: Hit: 55. Power: 60. Run: 50. Field: 55. Arm: 70.

Montgomery was a standout two-way player in high school who was known for his raw power and arm strength. He made it to campus at Stanford, where he immediately became the regular right fielder while also contributing out of the bullpen for two seasons. He transferred to Texas A&M for his 2024 draft campaign. Despite his huge arm, Montgomery’s future is as a position player. A 6-foot-2, 220-pound switch-hitter, he has a pro body with a chiseled frame and plenty of strength that allows him to generate plus raw power from both sides of the plate. He may not have the purest swing in the class, but Montgomery has done a nice job refining his approach. He cut his strikeout rate to a manageable 20.1% clip in 2024, while upping his walk rate to 17.7%. He can handle top-end velocity but will need to manage his miss tendencies versus secondaries. Montgomery has always been a better lefthanded hitter and might have more of a power-over-hit profile in pro ball, but he should hit for enough impact and draw enough walks to be productive. Montgomery has a prototypical right field profile with a 70-grade arm that should prevent runners from getting too aggressive. Some scouts think he is athletic and quick enough to get a chance in center field. Montgomery pitched just two innings in 2024 but can sit in the low 90s and touch 98 mph. He should be a top 10 pick, given his tools and strong 2024 performance.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: Recruited out of his Mississippi high school as a two-way player, Montgomery largely eschewed the mound after he transferred from Stanford to Texas AM for his draft year of 2024. He suffered a fractured right ankle on June 8 that may have played into his slide to No. 12 overall and prevented him from making his pro debut in 2024, but he was able to resume baseball activities by September. Along with Kyle Teel, Montgomery was a first-round headliner acquired by the White Sox in their Garrett Crochet trade with the Red Sox in December 2024.

Scouting Report: Montgomery describes his approach as one built around a determination to “hammer strikes.” While his aggressive swing as a junior resulted in relatively high strikeout and in-zone whiff rates that suggest a power-over-hit approach, he also showed impressive swing decisions that yielded an 18% walk rate in 2024, as well as plenty of resounding contact. At College Station, he posted several exit velocities of 110 mph or better, and his top-end bolt was 115 mph. The switch-hitting Montgomery batted .361/.476/.834 with a 16% strikeout rate batting lefthanded, using a clean swing that allows him to drive balls in the air with ease. From the right side, he made mechanical strides to smooth out his swing as a junior and decrease his groundball rate. But he still has work to do after hitting .224/.404/.478 with a 28% strikeout rate as a junior. Montgomery showed good athleticism and solid range while playing center field in college, but he seems likely to end up in a corner. He touched 96 mph on the mound, suggesting an elite outfield arm. His ankle injury was a clean break without ligament damage, leading to optimism that it won’t impact his average speed.

The Future: Montgomery profiles as a three true outcomes corner outfielder with strong defense who likely will debut in High-A in 2025. He could emerge as a big league option by 2026.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Field: 55 | Arm: 70.

Draft Prospects

School: Texas A&M Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.2
BA Grade: 55/High
Tools: Hit: 55. Power: 60. Run: 50. Field: 55. Arm: 70.

Montgomery was a standout two-way player in high school who was known for his raw power and arm strength. He made it to campus at Stanford, where he immediately became the regular right fielder while also contributing out of the bullpen for two seasons. He transferred to Texas A&M for his 2024 draft campaign. Despite his huge arm, Montgomery’s future is as a position player. A 6-foot-2, 220-pound switch-hitter, he has a pro body with a chiseled frame and plenty of strength that allows him to generate plus raw power from both sides of the plate. He may not have the purest swing in the class, but Montgomery has done a nice job refining his approach. He cut his strikeout rate to a manageable 20.1% clip in 2024, while upping his walk rate to 17.7%. He can handle top-end velocity but will need to manage his miss tendencies versus secondaries. Montgomery has always been a better lefthanded hitter and might have more of a power-over-hit profile in pro ball, but he should hit for enough impact and draw enough walks to be productive. Montgomery has a prototypical right field profile with a 70-grade arm that should prevent runners from getting too aggressive. Some scouts think he is athletic and quick enough to get a chance in center field. Montgomery pitched just two innings in 2024 but can sit in the low 90s and touch 98 mph. He should be a top 10 pick, given his tools and strong 2024 performance.