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Physical Description: Strong,
physical frame. Some remaining projection, but already looks the
part.
Hit: Switch-hitter who is more
comfortable from the left side. Starts slightly open and
utilizes a crouched leg kick. Plus bat speed. Really gets his
hips into his swing and whips the bat through the zone. Swing is
not overly long and has a high finish. Will take a walk, but has
a fair amount of swing-and-miss in his game. Has shown the
ability to hit velocity, but has had trouble with secondary
offerings and shown a tendency to chase against them. Swing is
more advanced from the left side and hit tool grades out better
from that side. Potential fringe-average hit tool.
Power: Plus-plus raw power. Shows all-fields
power potential. Can drive the ball with backspin, especially
from the left side. Potential plus-to-better game power.
Run: Average speed. Good instincts. Not a
stolen base threat, but can move once he gets going.
Field: Average defensive profile. Played
primarily right field in college and looks destined for a corner
in pro ball. Solid instincts and efficient routes.
Arm: Plus-plus arm strength. Was up to 97 mph off
the mound.
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Career Notes: Comes from a
family of athletes: his father played football at Iowa, his
uncle played football at Arizona State, and his mother ran track
at Iowa. A Top 100 draft prospect out of high school in
Mississippi, went undrafted because of his strong commitment to
Stanford. Entered college as a two-way player and played both
ways for his first two years, but took a step back from pitching
in 2024 and only threw two innings. Played in the Cape Cod
League during the summers of 2022 and 2023. Transferred to Texas
A&M as a junior. Fractured his ankle on a slide into home plate
in June during the NCAA Super Regionals, ending his junior
season. Traded along with Kyle Teel, Chase Meidroth, and
Wikelman Gonzalez for Garrett Crochet in December 2024 during
the Winter Meetings before having made his pro debut.
Summation:
Projects as a power-hitting corner outfielder. Ceiling is
dependent on how his hit tool develops. Wide variance of
outcomes with his hit tool, as his contact skills are a work in
progress. Will always have swing-and-miss in his game, but if he
can keep it under control, he has substantial upside. Will
continue to switch-hit initially, but there are long-term
questions about his viability from the right side given his
platoon splits. Has the type of arm that can be a weapon in the
outfield. Will be interesting to see if the Red Sox try him in
center field even though he mostly played right field in
college.
Links
Red Sox select Braden Montgomery with 12th overall pick (7.14.24) |
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