Wednesday was a thrilling day for the Red Sox, but it also marked a significant moment for one of their former top prospects.
In a trade with the Chicago White Sox, Boston acquired Garrett Crochet, sending four high-ranking prospects in return. One of the key players involved in the deal was Braden Montgomery, whom the Red Sox had selected 12th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft.
At just 21 years old, Montgomery wrapped up his college career at Texas A&M last summer, so he never had the chance to play within the Red Sox organization. This made the news of his inclusion in the trade particularly emotional. When he learned that he was part of the deal for Crochet, Montgomery described it as a “whirlwind of emotions.”
“I was at the cages doing my usual routine when I got a call,” Montgomery shared during an appearance on MLB Network’s Hot Stove on Thursday. “They told me that a unique situation had come up. The Red Sox were going to acquire Crochet, and it made sense given how talented he is. I’m excited about the whole situation. It seems like they have something big in the works. It’s still early in my pro career, so it’s definitely a strange feeling to be part of such a trade this soon.”
Montgomery was ranked as the No. 5 prospect in Boston’s farm system by Sox Prospects, meaning there was a lot of promise in his future with the team. Despite this, Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow felt that acquiring Crochet, described as a “bonafide ace,” was too valuable to pass up.