“I want to be the best in every room” - Braden Montgomery sets ambitious path with Red Sox after being picked at No.12 in MLB draft

The Boston Red Sox have added yet another titan to strengthen their already strong position-player lineup by selecting switch-hitting outfielder Braden Montgomery with the 12th pick in the 2024 MLB draft. As per MLB Pipeline, the player was projected to be picked at No. 8. However, he broke his right ankle during the NCAA Super Regional against Oregon, which caused him to fall to the Red Sox.

The injury was evident during his appearance at draft headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas where he used a knee scooter. Still, Montgomery is full of energy and excited to join the Red Sox's roster. Speaking with Xavier Scruggs of MLB Network, he made his ambitions clear to the fans:

"I guess just the drive to want to be the greatest. I want to be the best in every room, and that's how I go to work each day. And so that's how I approach things. That's what wakes me up each morning."

He has hit .322 with 27 home runs, 14 doubles and 85 RBIs in just 61 games. Braden Montgomery was also branded as the 2024 First Team All-American by Perfect Game and Second Team All-American by Baseball America.

Braden Montgomery gets a thumbs-up from pundits

Braden Montgomery at bat during the first inning against the Oregon (Image credit: Imagn)

The Boston Red Sox will receive a major boost with the arrival of Braden Montgomery. The Texas outfielder has many experts singing his praises all across town, including MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds:

"He’s a top-five (pick). They really got a gem here, I believe.”

Tennessee coach Tony Vitello also compared Montgomery to nine-time All-Star Carlos Beltrán and said the athlete has the potential to replicate Beltrán on the field. Even former Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd raved about his bat speed on MLB Network broadcast, ranking it among the best in college:

"This guy hits the ball exceptionally hard. His bat speed of all college hitters registered near the top of the board. … What just landed in their lap is their starting right fielder in a few years."

On Sunday night, many experts agreed that the Red Sox would benefit a lot from signing Montgomery. Now it's up to the athlete to capitalize on this opportunity.