The Red Sox have signed 2024 12th overall pick Braden Montgomery, as first reported by Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. The 21-year-old outfielder will receive a $5MM signing bonus, slightly less than the $5.48MM slot value of the 12th overall pick.
After two years at Stanford University, Montgomery transferred to Texas A&M for his junior year. Across 61 games (295 PA), the powerful switch-hitter batted .322 with 27 home runs, good for a 1.187 OPS. While he also pitched in 25 games over his two years with the Stanford Cardinal, he only pitched twice with the Aggies, giving up four earned runs in two innings of work. While he can touch the mid-90s with his fastball, he will presumably focus on hitting and playing the outfield as a professional.
Montgomery suffered an ankle injury in June, and he was seen riding around the draft on a scooter with his right foot in a walking boot. However, Speier notes it is “not considered a major issue” for the young outfielder.
Many experts (including those at Baseball America and FanGraphs) expected Montgomery to be a top-10 pick in this year’s draft, so the Red Sox should be quite pleased they landed him with the No. 12 selection. As Keith Law of The Athletic put it, “The Red Sox may have just gotten the steal of the draft so far.” Law had Montgomery as the No. 4 draft prospect on his pre-draft rankings. He describes the youngster as a “true switch-hitter,” though he notes that Montgomery’s hit tool and plate discipline are stronger from the left side. Law also had high praise for his throwing arm, suggesting he has a future as a plus defender in right field. Montgomery slots in as Boston’s No. 4 prospect, according to Baseball America. Due to his ankle injury, he will not debut in the Red Sox system until 2025.
This was yesterday morning. Still nice to see ecognition of it here everyone.
FWIW to fellow sox fans:
Boston signed all 20 draftees, including 8th rounder HS kid Conrad Cason for 1.25m
Why? I only came in to tout that they also signed Cason, and you beat me to it:)
I don’t know enough about the rest of the guys, but I like Montgomery and Cason a whole lot.
My favorite draft by the team in years Joe. 14 pitchers, only middle IF (Cason) is a 2 way player.
Makes one want to hear from those defending the always drafting half ss/2b types that they “always draft the best player available” line and want to ask them if it was just pitchers this year (for once) and NO middle infielders, or because someone within the organization figured out how lousy pitching was, top to bottom within the system.
How about we wait and see how (or if) any of these pitchers drafted this year develop. A few years back the Angels drafted nothing but pitchers in every round of the draft because of an organizational lack in that area and got precious little out of the effort.
One thing you can be sure of is Breslow knows how to develop pitchers. And will move them up through the system.
How about we wait and see how (or if) any of these pitchers drafted this year develop.
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Because predicting the future is infinitely more interesting than waiting for the final results to come out.
Cason is the big one as he dropped down the boards due to the expected premium it’d take for him to forgo his college commitment.
Had to scrape together over a million more than slot where they took him to get it done. Wasn’t sure they’d find enough.
Impressive money management lets hope some of the players pan out
I’m not sure what the Sox total bonus pool was but teams are allowed to outspend their pool by 5%. If their pool was 10M 5% of that is 500k then they only needed to save 500K over the picks in that case which is pretty easy
Boston signed all 20 draftees,
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Sorry, I overlooked this important factoid. So we’re done and don’t have to worry about re-allocating bonus $$$? Minor point, but I like it better when the processes are complete.
Last 4 to sign were picks 10-14. Not checked mlb site for bonus amounts (if they have listed yet). Soxprospects site didn’t have the bonus for those 4 listed as of like 8am this morning.
If remember correctly.. After bonus amounts for 1st 16 picks were done, they had like 400k left to go over on, but don’t hold me to it. Can chk on soxprospects draft history page, where total amounts for 16 picks are and amount they had and the 5% they can go over (was like 500k).
Hope this helps Joe.
Konnor Griffin also signed as well.
Pirates have had an incredible 24-48 hours.
Removed their two worst SP saving salary and acquiring their now #5 org prospect in Yorke, brought in a bat with 18 HR to match the team leader who also has 18 HR, brought in a veteran IF bat with a plus glove having a career season, and signed their 1 round pick.
Well done Ben Cherington.
Yorke, to me ought to end up as a fair mlb player. Bat 1st, but the glove isn’t awful. not, per se Danny Uggla, step and a half range awful at 2b. Yorke will field the ball cleanly and has averageish range, not big on flashy plays.. He’s.. Average is best way would put it from what saw of him in Portland and worcester games on milb tv.
He got a rap and it stuck, 1 site in particular lists his glove as not very good in their scouting write up, but if ur a Bucs fan, have access to milb tv and get to see him? It won’t take long to be disproven his glove isn’t as bad as some so called experts say it is.
John Silver I have been saying that for quite some time watching all these minors games via Milb tv it’s something I noticed right away. It’s something the announcers of other teams seemed to comment on as well they would frequently comment on how solid a defender he was despite his undeserved reputation.
Yorke can hit as well as long as he uses the all field approach he’s going to hit this was a good get for the Pirates. I was pretty sure he was going to get traded quite frankly Boston has a ton of up the middle infield talent. It’s obvious Breslow sees something in Priester and he thinks perhaps his potential can be unlocked by Breslow and company. I think that Yorke trade has a good chance to work both ways. I trust Breslow/Bailey when it comes to pitching.
I’m guessing Yorke is going to be making his big league debut very soon this should be a good opportunity for the young man. I look to forward to seeing how he progresses in the big leagues.
milb tv is the biggest value going for us hard core fans Bruin. Wasn’t so many years back that few teams below AAA had games on TV, now nearly every league above rookie ball’s are broadcast.
Unpaid solicitation.. Get it if you don’t have it and love the game..
Bruin, you are so right regarding Yorke’s defense and his swing and when he uses the entire field, which he will lose sight of sometimes, but that may be because he’s a lot stronger than we realize and wants to “show off” his power and gets pull happy.
It’s funny seeing even the local pundits parrot things from the big 3 prospect outlets. Glad to see more about Yorke.
Even if he is bat-first or even a slightly below defensive 2B, he is getting reps at LF and can always DH. Pro hitters are always welcome here in Pittsburgh.
Red Sox get Montgomery with 12th pick, even though he was in the Top 10 in most rankings/mock drafts. Then, to sign him to under-slot value? Well done Red Sox.
He could end up being the steal of this year’s draft
Just like the steal of the last two years draft Anthony in 2022 and Campbell in 2023.
left off Teel last year at 14 as another potential steal
Acell I think Campbell coming from the 4th round and probably a top 60 when it’s all said and done this year is the biggest steal of the 2023 draft. Teel was a first round pick but he kind of fell to Bloom and his regime. His last two drafts and international signings have been really good imo.
I still think Teel is a steal because he was widely considered a top 10 and borderline top five talent. Kind of falling points to that.
I’m not going to argue with you love Teel by the way Anthony has hit two absolute bombs today his power is special it’s effortless 450 foot homer power. He’s just learning to lift the ball. Also don’t look now but Mikey Romero is finally healthy and he’s scorching the ball after a slow start in Greenville he’s 3-3 today with a homer. He might reach AA when they call up Mayer. Hos swing is sweet.
Romero is certainly coming around as well. Nice to see him bounce back with a call up to AA very soon. Seems like Anthony was slumping a bit but he’s coming out of it. I expect all three to be called up to worcester soon and Campbell not too far behind.
Campbell has two hits today as well. What a steal he has turned out to be and he can play every position competently he’s a good defensive player.
His last at bat he smoked one to the gap but they were playing him that way and it was caught still another smoked ball by Campbell.
You have to remember Anthony is going through a bit of a swing change they are trying to weaponize his easy plus power he hit to many grounders they are working with him to lift the ball more. It’s why you don’t necessarily scout the stat line like some seem to do.
Thanks. I didn’t know Anthony was changing his swing.
I plead guilty to scouting the stat lines. I might have to heed you and Silver and start getting milb TV in the future.
How much more is this going to set me back?
Joe I’m not sure how much I pay since I’m auto renew but it’s cheap like 30 bucks a year might even be 20 bucks. The broadcasts aren’t the best all the time but you will usually get a good idea and it’s easy to speed through games.
Joe on Milb combined no no at Greenville yesterday. Yordanny Monegro is rounding into form won’t be long he will go to AA Portland. Lotta pitching coming.
Nice. 0.00 ERA over his last four starts.
In a couple of years, they’ll trade him to Arizona for an “up-and-coming” pitcher who sports a 2-7 record and a 6.68 ERA.
While I believe in paying above slot value and above value while under team control in hopes once they hit free agency they give a discount, this was well done.