When former Texas A&M pitcher Asa Lacy heard his name called as the fourth overall pick in the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft, he became the highest-selected Aggie player in program history.
It was a bright spot on what could only be described as a disappointing ending to his career, in a season that held promise for the Aggie squad. It came to an abrupt halt after 18 games, due to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sunday, Texas A&M outfielder Braden Montgomery has the chance to be the first Aggie taken in the first round since Lacy, after the most historic season in A&M history. Beyond Montgomery, A&M could have as many as two other current players and a few high school commits hear their names called in the three-day event from Sunday to Tuesday.
Montgomery, a Stanford transfer who spent one season in Aggieland, is projected to go as low as fourth, the pick of the Oakland Athletics, to as high as 13th to the San Francisco Giants, per multiple national mock drafts.
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Any of those selections would make him the highest-drafted position player in A&M history, surpassing Tyler Naquin’s 15th overall pick by the Cleveland Guardians in 2012.
Despite being sidelined for the final seven games of the season to a broken ankle, Montgomery, a switch hitter, still lead the Aggies in runs batted in with 85 and slugging percentage at .733. His 27 home runs were second only to fellow outfielder Jace LaViolette’s 29.
Throughout his career, Montgomery has played both in the field and as a pitcher, however saw limited time on the mound for the Aggies this year. His arm strength translated well to right field, where he showcased throws that ranged from the warning track to third base in the air.
Montgomery’s MLB.com draft profile made note that he will solely be an outfielder at the next level.
“A switch-hitter with strength and a quick, aggressive stroke from both sides of the plate, he does more damage as a lefty hitter and his plus power plays to all parts of the ballpark,” the draft profile read. “He has improved his plate discipline and his ability to handle breaking balls during the last two seasons, but he still swings and misses at pitches in the zone a bit too often and will chase non-fastballs.”
A pair of pitchers are next in line for the Aggies in left-handed starter Ryan Prager and right-handed power arm Chris Cortez.
Prager’s highest prospect ranking is 58th, according to ESPN and 61st according to MLB.com. As the A&M ace, he paced the team in strikeouts with 124 in 97.2 innings. He walked 20 batters through the season and claimed a 2.95 earned runs average. His standout season came after missing a year while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
“Prager doesn’t light up radar guns but he keeps hitters off balance as well as any pitcher in the college ranks,” according to his MLB.com draft profile. “His near-over-the-top delivery provides plenty of deception, and his ability to mix and command all three of his pitches also helps them play up. He’s a high-floor mid-rotation starter and some scouts think he has more upside and velocity left in his tank.”
Cortez began the season as the Aggies’ weekend starter, lighting up radar guns with triple-digit velocity on his fastball. In previous seasons, he struggled with command, but found new confidence in both his fastball and his slider this year. He became the Aggies’ go-to arm in middle relief as the season came to a close.
Cortez finished second on the team in strikeouts with 102 in 64.2 innings pitched. He collected a 2.78 ERA, while walking 37 batters.
“With little effort, Cortez produces fastballs that park at 96-98 mph and peak at 100 with power sink that makes them almost impossible to lift,” his MLB.com draft profile said. “Hitters can’t try to sit on his heater because he also has a power slider that ranges from 86-92 miles per hour with plenty of horizontal and vertical action. He doesn’t have much feel for an upper-80s changeup with modest fade and rarely uses it.”
The most likely of A&M’s 2024 commits to potentially pick the professional route out of high school is Independence High School short stop Wyatt Sanford. According to MLB.com, he ranks as the 35th best prospect in the field, with mock drafts placing him as the 33rd pick overall to the Minnesota Twins.
“One of the best defensive shortstops in the 2024 high school class, Sanford has range to both sides and solid-to-plus arm strength,” his MLB.com draft profile read. “There’s no doubt he can stay at the position, but his athleticism and tools would enable him to play almost anywhere on the diamond in a utility role. He produces consistent plus run times and is an asset on the bases.”