Red Sox select Braden Montgomery with 12th overall pick
Montgomery was a highly-rated two-way player coming out of Madison Central High School in Madison, Miss. His prospect status moved forward significantly at the plate at Stanford University, where he spent his first two college seasons. He transferred to Texas A&M for his junior season where his bat found another level. He hit .322/.454/.733 with 27 home runs in 61 games with the Aggies. His season ended with a gruesome broken ankle suffered during the Super Regionals of the NCAA Tournament, but it was a clean break that doctors do not believe will have any lingering effects.
Standing 6-foot-2, 220 pounds and featuring the outstanding arm one would expect from a former two-way player, Montgomery profiles as a prototypical right fielder. A switch-hitter in college who has been much more effective from the left-handed batter's box, Montgomery confirmed in media availability following his selection that he intends to keep switch-hitting for now. He has also shown wooden bat success, hitting .292/.379/.487 during two summers with Yarmouth-Dennis of the Cape Cod League. Both Baseball America and MLB.com noted that he has improved his contact numbers throughout college and will need to continue to improve against secondaries as he climbs the ladder.
At 12th overall, Montgomery is the highest-selected position player in Texas A&M history. It is the second time the Red Sox have gone with an Aggie in the first round, having selected left-hander Casey Fossum with a supplemental first-round pick in 1999.
Photo Credit: Braden Montgomery from Texas A&M University