Track Record: Montgomery emerged as arguably the best player in a historically strong Northeast high school draft class in 2021, with his freakish athleticism drawing large crowds of scouts to every game. The Rockies drafted him eighth overall and signed him for $5 million, the most ever for a player from Pennsylvania, to forgo a Virginia commitment. Montgomery reported to the Arizona Complex League after signing and had a solid pro debut, albeit in only 14 games, and finished the year in instructional league.
Scouting Report: Montgomery's raw tools are immense. He has plus-plus speed, plus arm strength and the athleticism to develop into a plus defender in center field, although he needs to improve his jumps and routes going into the gaps. He also has plus raw power he'll show off in batting practice. The question is how much Montgomery will hit. He has a large hitch in his swing, which currently is more rigid and less fluid than it needs to be, and his timing and balance have a long way to go for him to be even a fringe-average hitter. He has plenty of bat speed and decent hand-eye coordination, but he'll need to prove he can make adjustments against higher-level pitching. His swing is consistently compared to Hunter Pence's, which can be both a good and bad thing with how funky and awkward it gets.
The Future: Montgomery has a wide range of outcomes depending on how his swing develops. If it clicks, he could be an above-average, everyday center fielder. If it doesn't, he'll struggle to get out of the low minors like previous athletic prep outfielders.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 70. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o63SnpmapJyWuqa%2ByJyYZ5ufonyxuMCynKurX22Den%2BMm5ynpqliurC606Cmpp2irnw%3D