Braden Montgomery Injury Disheartens Texas A&M Baseball Fans as College World Series Begins

Braden Montgomery Out of College World Series Due to Lower-Leg Injury

In a disheartening announcement for Texas A&M baseball and its fans, star outfielder Braden Montgomery has been declared out for the 2024 College World Series. The promising athlete will miss the entire CWS being held in Omaha, Nebraska after sustaining a lower-leg injury in Game 1 of the Bryan-College Station Super Regional series against Oregon.

The Injury

Montgomery, who ranks as a projected top-10 pick of the much-anticipated 2024 MLB Draft, suffered the injury on Saturday, June 8 during the first inning against Oregon. As he rounded third, aiming to score, he tripped close to home plate and remained on the field for a prolonged period before being assisted to the dugout by the Texas A&M training staff.

The star outfielder returned to the dugout with an air cast on his leg after discarding his uniform. Following the incident, he underwent surgery on Wednesday, and while the Aggies coach, Jim Schlossnagle, has confirmed that the recovery period might not be as long as initially feared, Montgomery is still ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Impact on the Team and the Game

The inopportune injury puts a full stop on Montgomery’s college career, which saw a successful tenure with Stanford before his transfer to Texas A&M. As a pivotal player in the Aggies’ offense, his absence will certainly create a void that will need to be filled if the team harbors any hopes of advancing in the World Series.

Jace LaViolette, another promising talent, is now under increased pressure to perform strongly in the middle of the Aggies’ order without Montgomery. Texas A&M will face off against in-conference foe Florida at the College World Series at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Loss of a Top Prospect

Braden Montgomery’s absence from the entire College World Series is a significant downturn for Texas A&M. He is regarded as a leading prospect in the 2024 MLB Draft and enjoyed quite a reputation in CWS last year with Stanford, where he helped to knock out Texas A&M. However, Texas A&M still stands a viable chance for a national championship, with Jace LaViolette expected to be a top selection in the 2025 draft class.

Montgomery’s Performance Snapshot

In spite of the unfortunate incident, Montgomery’s stats remain impressive. With Texas A&M he showed a .322 batting average with 27 home runs and 85 RBIs in 2024. In the previous years at Stanford, he recorded a .336 batting average with 17 home runs and 61 RBIs in 2023, and a .294 batting average with 18 home runs and 57 RBIs in 2022.

A Glimmer of Hope for the Team

While physically off the field, Montgomery will still accompany the team in Omaha. His presence will surely be a supportive force for his teammates as the Aggies strives to secure a College World Series title, even in his absence.