Junior OF Braden Montgomery made history on Sunday as he was selected by the Boston Red Sox with the 12th pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.
Montgomery became the highest-drafted position player in Texas A&M baseball history, surpassing OF Tyler Naquin’s 15th pick in 2012. Montgomery is the first Aggie taken in the first round since LHP Asa Lacy was taken with the fourth overall pick in 2020 by the Kansas City Royals.
Despite spending just one season in Aggieland after beginning his career at Stanford, Montgomery’s impact on A&M’s best season in history was undeniable. The Mississippi native accrued a multitude of honors in 2024, being named a first team All-American by Perfect Game, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings.
Montgomery received second team honors from D1Baseball and Baseball America. Alongside senior LHP Evan Aschenbeck, he was the program’s first unanimous All-American since INF Braden Shewmake in 2017. In leading A&M to the College World Series, Montgomery reached Omaha, Nebraska in all three seasons of his career.
The crown jewel of the Aggies’ 2023 transfer class, Montgomery powered the A&M offense before breaking his ankle on June 8 in the first game of the Bryan-College Station Regional on an awkward slide at home plate. In 61 starts, he slashed .322/.454/.733, with his on-base and slugging percentages leading the team.
Montgomery belted 27 home runs for second on the team while tallying 85 RBIs to lead the SEC and tie for fifth in the country. He led the Aggies with 25 multi-hit and 25 multi-RBI games. The switch-hitter added 53 walks for second on the team.
Defensively, Montgomery displayed a cannon of an arm in right field with a .969 fielding percentage and throws that easily reached third base. He was used sparingly as a two-way player on the mound, with two appearances and one start. In two innings, he allowed four runs on one hit, four walks and two strikeouts.
Montgomery was named the 2022 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year along with Freshman All-American nods by Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game and the NCBWA. He set the Stanford freshman record with 18 home runs and hit .294 with 57 RBIs. In 18 ⅔ frames on the mound, Montgomery struck out 28 batters with an 0-2 record and a 5.79 ERA.
En route to ABCA All-America second team distinction in 2023, Montgomery upped his batting average to .336 with 17 long balls and 61 RBIs. He picked up 51 walks with a .461 on-base percentage before competing on the Team USA Collegiate National Team that summer.
