Red Sox 2024 draft tracker: Complete list of Boston picks originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Red Sox’ first draft, with Craig Breslow leading the charge as chief baseball officer, is in full swing.
With your first selection – the 12th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft – The Red Sox selected outfielder Braden Montgomery from Texas A&M. Breslow switched his focus to throwing in rounds 2 and 3, taking TCU left-hander Payton Tolle ranked 50th overall and Florida’s Brandon Neely at 86th overall.
Check back here for live updates after every Red Sox pick from Sunday through Tuesday.
Round 1, pick 12: Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M
Montgomery, 21, slashed .322/.454/.733 with 27 homers and 85 RBI in 67 games last season for the Aggies. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound slugger is a slugger who projects as a corner outfielder among the pros.
Classified as MLB Pipeline’s top eight prospects in the draft, Montgomery has serious power and a strong arm. Although his plate discipline took a step in the right direction last season, he will look to improve his swing-and-miss at the professional level.
Montgomery broke his ankle during this year’s College World Series, but said after being drafted by Boston he doesn’t expect his injury to be a long-term problem.
Round 2, pick 50: Payton Tolle, LHP, TCU
Tolle, 21, posted a 7-4 record with a 3.21 ERA in 14 starts for the Horned Frogs last season. The 6-foot-2, 250-pounder recorded 125 strikeouts and 37 walks in 81.1 innings of work and was named the Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year.
At 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, Tolle relies on deception with a fastball that hovers around 90-92 mph and tops out at 96. His arsenal also includes a slider and middle changeup. Many project him to become a reliever if and when he reaches the bigs.
Round 3, pick 86: Brandon Neely, RHP, Florida
Neely, 21, had a career-high 5.13 ERA last season but played a major role in leading the Gators to the final four of the College World Series. From May 17 onwards, he dazzled with just six earned runs in 28.2 innings (1.91 ERA) along with 44 strikeouts.
Neely was primarily a closer throughout his college career, but has the potential to start at the pro level.
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