ESPN Mock Draft Has Royals Taking Impressive College Hitter 6th Overall

We still have more than six weeks to go until the 2024 MLB Draft begins on July 14, but what better time to start dreaming about your team’s next prospect than right now? 

The 2024 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament is about to unfold over the coming weeks starting on Friday, and you can root for your favorite potential future Royals along the way!

ESPN MLB Insider Kiley McDaniel released a mock draft on Wednesday morning – predicting each of the first 30 selections of this year’s draft.

ESPN: Royals Should Select Texas A&M OF Braden Montgomery

McDaniel mentions that Kansas City has been tied to many prospects already and they could take nearly anyone ranked in his top 10. 

But he has them locked in on Montgomery right now.

Is that something worth celebrating? Let’s dig into it. 

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Montgomery first went to Stanford for the 2022 and ‘23 seasons before transferring to Texas A&M for his junior season. This season, he’s helped the Aggies (44-13) enter the NCAA Tournament ranked as the third-best team in college baseball.

He’s primarily a right fielder, though he has appeared as a relief pitcher sparingly in his collegiate career. 

This season, Montgomery has batted .317 with 62 runs, 26 home runs, 80 RBI, 5 stolen bases and 51 walks to 56 strikeouts over 57 games. 

In the field, he’s recorded 89 putouts, three assists and just three errors.

The 21-year-old switch hitter is ranked as the No. 5 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline with 55 hit, 60 power, 50 run, 70 arm and 50 field (60 grade overall). 

If Montgomery can live up to that scouting profile and his college pedigree, he would be a much-needed offensive addition to Kansas City. 

Considering the fact that he would be 22 at the start of next season, he likely wouldn’t be too far away from making a quick impact. 

But are there any better options?

Who Else Could Kansas City Draft at No. 6 Overall?

Of course, the Royals can only select who is available, so we will rule out the top three ranked players per MLB Pipeline – Charlie Condon (Georgia), Travis Bazzana (Oregon State) and Jac Caglianone (Florida).

If any of those three fall to Kansas City, they would be smart to take them. Each is a 65 grade prospect with exceptional hitting abilities.

But if we’re being realistic, other options include: J.J. Wetherholt (West Virginia), Nick Kurtz (Wake Forest), Seaver King (Wake Forest), Caleb Lomavita (California), Billy Amick (Tennessee) or Tommy White (LSU). 

Those are all of the college-aged hitting prospects ranked as a 55 grade or better. 

Of course, Kansas City could draft a pitcher and fans wouldn’t be upset, but this team has more holes in its lineup than its pitching staff, and it would be fun to pair a young player with Bobby Witt for years to come. 

Taking a prep player is off the table too. The Royals are ready to win now, and waiting years for a prep player to develop might not help their current championship window. 

You could take any of the players listed above, but positionally, some don’t really work. 

Kurtz, a first baseman, would be blocked by Vinnie Pasquantino and Lomavita, a catcher, would be blocked by Sal Perez and Freddy Fermin. 

Other players, like King, Amick and White each have flaws in their game, whether that be a low grade in fielding, throwing or running.

That leaves one player: Wetherholt. 

He could slide into the hole at second base currently occupied by Michael Massey and his talent is tantalizing. 

The left-handed hitter batted .356 this season (.449 in 2023!!!) despite missing several weeks due to a hamstring injury. He has 29 home runs and 56 stolen bases across 140 collegiate games with 81 walks to 79 strikeouts in 537 at-bats.

Wetherholt would be a perfect fit atop the Royals lineup and could team up with Witt on double plays for years to come. 

It almost makes too much sense.

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