With Colorado’s first draft pick of the post-Jeff Bridich era, the Rockies selected high school outfielder Benny Montgomery at No. 8 overall on Sunday.
Montgomery, 18, played at Red Land High School in Pennsylvania. The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder has some of the best tools in the 2021 draft class and is MLB Pipeline’s No. 15-ranked prospect.
“He’s a total package with his athleticism and his strength and speed combination,” interim Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt said. “That’s something that’s hard to find when it all comes together. Despite his (height) he’s a well above-average runner, and there’s a power combination that we think, going forward, he’ll be a very productive major league outfielder for the Rockies.”
It marks the second year in a row that the Rockies have taken an outfielder with their first pick. A year ago they selected prep outfielder Zac Veen with the No. 9 overall pick.
“I had a meeting with some of their top (scouting) guys a few weeks ago, and I knew that they liked me, and I liked the franchise as well,” Montgomery said. “The thought of playing at Coors Field where the ball flies is pretty cool to me… And I feel like as I continue to grow, my power will keep coming, and I’ll be hitting balls out of Coors Field in a few years.”
Montgomery is committed to play baseball at Virginia, but he’s almost certain to forego that commitment to sign with the Rockies. The slot value of the No. 8 pick is $5,176,900 and the signing deadline is August 15.
Schmidt said Montgomery made some recent adjustments in his hitting approach to take out a small hitch that should pay dividends as a professional. The Rockies scouted him in the fall “and very hard in the spring time.”
Pennsylvania’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021, Montgomery has plus-speed and raw power from the right side, as seen in his win in the Perfect Game All-American Classic Home Run Derby. He’s also an elite defender and profiles as a rangy outfielder.
“His ability might fit in left field at Coors Field,” Schmidt said. “Currently he’s got the speed to play center field, too… Last summer we clocked him at a couple different events at 6.3 (seconds) in the 60-yard dash, which is pretty good for a kid of his size.”
Montgomery had made a habit of traveling from Pennsylvania to Alabama over the last few years to work with a special hitting instructor, Casey Smith of Out Front Hitting, who helped Montgomery hone in offensively as he hit .417 with seven home runs this spring.
“He was huge for my swing progression and offensive capabilities this spring,” Montgomery said. “Over the summertime, my biggest skeptics would talk about a hitch or that I was sort of coming out of the ground (when I swung). Casey realized that and he helped me keep my upper body and lower body connected, and to help me really stay anchored to the ground. The power came through on my lower half.”
As with many first-round picks out of high school, Montgomery is a high-risk, high-reward pick. The Rockies selected him over several other high-profile prospects who would’ve filled pressing needs in the farm system, including Vanderbilt right-hander Kumar Rocker (No. 10 to the Mets) as well as prep shortstops Brady House (No. 11 to the Nationals) and Kahlil Watson (No. 16 to the Marlins).
The Rockies’ top other top picks in the 40-round draft are at No. 68 (Competitive Balance Round B), No. 79 (3rd) and No. 109 (4th).
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July 12, 2021 at 07:05AM
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Rockies select prep outfielder Benny Montgomery with No. 8 overall pick in first round of 2021 MLB draft - The Denver Post
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