Texas A&M baseball’s Braden Montgomery, Chris Cortez taken in first two rounds of 2024 MLB Draft
Braden Montgomery becomes the 12th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox, while Chris Cortez gets selected 45th overall by the Los Angeles Angels.
Published: Jul. 14, 2024 at 7:14 PM CDT | Updated : 20 hours ago
FORT WORTH, Texas – The air inside the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, was charged with anticipation. As the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft unfolded, the bleachers packed to the brim with passionate Texas A&M fans burst into wild celebration. Braden Montgomery and Chris Cortez, two key figures of the revered Texas A&M baseball team, sealed their professional future in Major League Baseball.
Montgomery Goes to the Red Sox
Outfielder Braden Montgomery was the first of the Aggie duo to have his name called out. He was selected 12th overall by the historic Boston Red Sox team. This makes him the highest-selected Aggie position player in the MLB draft – a record previously held by fellow Aggie, Tyler Naquin.
Montgomery relayed his excitement about joining the Red Sox while donning an A&M-patched white jacket, “It was a joy. To be picked by anybody means a lot to my family. The fact that it’s the Red Sox means a whole lot more. I’m excited to get to work.”
Montgomery’s Performance and Injury
Montgomery’s performance prior to his untimely ankle injury during the Super regionals speaks volumes about his capabilities. He led the Aggies with 85 RBIs and a slugging percentage of .733. He racked up 27 home runs and was a unanimous All-American selection. Despite undergoing surgery for his broken ankle, Montgomery chose to accompany and motivate his team at the College World Series.
As per recent reports, Montgomery is expected to make a full recovery. He shared, “I’m feeling great. I’m honestly ahead of schedule in terms of bone growth. They’ve let me walk a little bit on it and in two weeks, I should have free range to walk and start rehab.”
Cortez Picked by the Angels
Another jewel in the crown of the Aggies, right-handed power arm Chris Cortez was picked 45th overall by the Los Angeles Angels. A critical asset for Texas A&M, Cortez ended the season with an impressive tally of 102 strikeouts in 64.2 innings pitched.
Cortez shared his excitement saying, “It’s an incredible honor to be selected by the Angels. I look forward to contributing to the team’s success and am excited to start this new phase of my career.”
Texas A&M Continues to Produce Top Baseball Talent
The selection of Montgomery and Cortez carries forward Texas A&M’s legacy in training top-quality baseball prospects. The university has now produced 14 first-round selections in its program history. Their history, coupled with their consistent record, solidifies Texas A&M as a significant contributor to the MLB.
A third pick from Texas A&M, Wyatt Sanford, also got selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates as the 47th overall pick in the second round.
Aggies Looking Ahead
After these exciting selections, Texas A&M’s coaching staff and athletes will look ahead to the next season. Pumped by the success of their teammates, future Aggie prospects will surely be encouraged to aim for similar heights and potentially make their mark in the MLB draft in the coming years.
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