History! Red Sox select Braden Montgomery with 12th overall pick

History.

On Sunday night, Texas A&M’s Braden Montgomery became the 14th Aggie to become a first-round selection in the MLB Draft when the Boston Red Sox took the phenom with the 12th overall pick.

He becomes the highest-drafted position player in Texas A&M history, surpassing the previous high watermark set by Billy Hodge when the Braves took the catcher 13th overall in 1970.

Of note, Hodge did not sign with Atlanta and returned to A&M in 1971. The highest-drafted position player to sign was Tyler Naquin, Cleveland’s 15th overall pick in 2012.

The only Aggies to come off the board quicker were pitchers Asa Lacy (fourth overall in 2020), Jeff Granger (fifth in 1993), Barret Loux (sixth in 2010) and Doug Rau (seventh in 1970).

Entering this weekend’s draft, MLB.com listed the switch-hitting Montgomery as the No. 8 draft-eligible prospect. On a 20-80 scale, he was rated 60 overall with his arm (70) and power (60)  

An elite outfielder who also spent some time on the mound, Montgomery enjoyed one of the best seasons in A&M history in 2024.

In 61 games, the Madison, MS, products slashed .322/.733/.454 with 27 home runs and 85 RBIs. One of those home runs came in his first at-bat as an Aggie.

For his on-field exploits, Montgomery was named an All-American by the ABCA, NCBWA, Perfect Game, D1Baseball and Baseball America to go along with a first-team All-SEC nod in his only season in America’s best college baseball league.

Montgomery came to Aggieland ahead of 2024 after two All-American seasons at Stanford. For his three-year collegiate career, he clubbed an impressive 62 long balls and drove in a ridiculous 203 runs while posting a 1.073 OPS between Palo Alto and College Station.

Despite having his historic 2024 season cut short in the Bryan-College Station Super Regional, Montgomery will no doubt long be remembered as a Texas A&M legend.

Ryan Brauninger’s scout of Braden Montgomery

“Switch-hitting outfielder with top-end physical traits that result in top-end physical outcomes. Tight swings from both sides of the plate with the ability to make loud contact to all parts of the field on every pitch type. Left-handed contact rates and strike zone management percentages are much higher than right-handed. Handles a variety of pitch heights well. Elite arm talent in the outfield. Smooth outfielder with good feel for ball flight and trajectory. Possesses all the necessary traits to stick as a big league right fielder.”