Texas A&M baseball outfielder Braden Montgomery is still expected to be among the top 2024 MLB Draft selections despite suffering a season-ending injury in the postseason.
Montgomery, the No. 8-ranked draft prospect according to MLB Pipeline, injured his ankle in Game 1 of the Aggies’ super regional matchup with Oregon, missing the rest of the postseason. Texas A&M still reached the College World Series final but fell to No. 1 seed Tennessee in three games.
REQUIRED READING: Why did Braden Montgomery transfer to Texas A&M? Top MLB prospect left Stanford for Aggies
The first-year transfer from Stanford finished the 2024 season with a .322 batting average and 27 home runs and 85 RBIs. He also drew 53 walks in 236 at-bats.
Montgomery, a switch-hitter, projects as a solid MLB bat, with above-average defense and an astonishing arm that is rated one of the best in the draft class. The former two-way player is expected to solely focus on the field instead of pitching.
Here’s the latest injury update for Montgomery ahead of Sunday’s MLB draft:
REQUIRED READING: Braden Montgomery MLB mock draft, scouting report: When will Texas A&M OF be picked in 2024 draft?
Braden Montgomery injury update
Montgomery provided an update on his ankle injury to TexAgs on Thursday, just a few days before the first night of the 2024 MLB Draft.
“I’m feeling good,” Montgomery said in the interview. “Everything’s healing up really nicely. Doctor said they’re seeing some early bone formation in there, so everything is going really well, even maybe a little bit ahead of schedule. Everything’s feeling good, foot’s feeling normal. Still in the boot, though, but I’m able to take that off when I’m not doing anything, so just sitting around the house, I’m chilling.”
Montgomery added he has another check-in with the doctor in two weeks, and that’ll be when he starts walking on his boot, doing rehab and moving his foot for the first time.
“That’s when things really start to speed up,” Montgomery added. “Then, as soon as my incisions close up all the way I’ll start getting in the pool, doing whatever I can to just get moving, get everything feeling back to normal. I’ll be able to throw probably as soon as I start walking, and then I’ll be able to hit in probably another month and a half.”
What is Braden Montgomery’s injury?
Montgomery’s injury that held him out of the Aggies’ CWS run was to his ankle. The injury occurred early in Texas A&M’s first game of its super regional series against Oregon.
Braden Montgomery mock draft
Here’s the latest projections for Montgomery in the 2024 MLB Draft:
-
MLB Pipeline: First round, No. 8 overall to Los Angeles Angels
-
The Athletic: First round, No. 9 overall to Pittsburgh Pirates
-
ESPN: First round, No. 9 overall to Los Angeles Angels
Braden Montgomery stats
Here are Montgomery’s year-by-year stats in college:
-
2022 (Stanford): .294 batting average with 18 home runs and 57 RBIs. .957 OPS in 245 at-bats.
-
2023 (Stanford): .336 batting average with 17 home runs and 61 RBIs. 1.072 OPS in 244 at-bats.
-
2024 (Texas A&M): .322 batting average with 27 home runs and 85 RBIs. 1.187 OPS in 236 at-bats.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Braden Montgomery injury: Update on Texas A&M star ahead of 2024 MLB Draft