The Boston Red Sox had the 12th pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. Right near the middle of the pack, it was impossible to predict what would happen.
Would someone fall to them? Did they already have a deal cut with a prospect? Would the Red Sox go for someone they felt they could sign under slot value and try to save money for other picks later in the draft (this is how they had the money to sign Roman Anthony)?
Or ... would they get luck with a top-five talent dropping to them as the top end of the draft shook out a bit unexpectedly?
Boston ended up selecting outfielder Braden Montgomery out of Texas A&M in what is being viewed as a steal.
With the 12th pick in the 2024 #MLBDraft, we have selected OF Braden Montgomery from @AggieBaseball. pic.twitter.com/MXEb8PFEsM
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 15, 2024
Red Sox 2024 MLB Draft: Braden Montgomery selected at No. 12 overall
An injury led to the switch-hitter dropping a bit as a prospect, but at one point was seen as the best player in the draft.
Montgomery has a ridiculous arm in the outfield and put up monster numbers with Texas A&M this year. The 21-year-old slashed .322/.454/.733 with 14 doubles, one triple, and 27 home runs in just 61 games. He drove in 85 runs, scored 65 more, and stole five bases. Montgomery walked nearly as many times (53) as he struck out (59).
The Red Sox aren't exactly suffering for outfielders. However, this was an incredibly easy selection to make. You don't draft for need in MLB. You draft talent.
Montgomery has some of the best talent in the entire draft, and landing him at 12 is wild (and a bit like Kyle Teel falling into Boston's lap last year).
Being a college athlete, Montgomery's 2024 will be an interesting one. We saw Teel get a few FCL at-bats before going to High-A. He crushed it there for a few weeks and got to spend the last two weeks in Double-A.
Montgomery's in a much different boat due to an ankle injury, though. Will he be cleared to play this year? And if he is, will the Red Sox even want to put him out there? Or would they prefer to keep him off the field and prepare him in different ways and not risk further health issues?
No matter what they decide to do with him in 2024, the next few years should be fun. Montgomery is an absolute stud, and he could be part of one of the scariest outfields to ever roam Fenway Park.