Benny Montgomery
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| Photo from Twitter- @Benny_Mont |
Bio:
Age: 19
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 200 lbs.
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Hometown: Paoli, Pennsylvania
Draft Profile: 1st Round, 8th pick of 2021 draft by Colorado
Drafted Out of: Red Land High School (Lewisberry, PA)
Career Stat Line: .313 AVG .360 OBP 3 HR 21 RBI 8 SB 1.000 Fielding %
The story of Benjamin Montgomery begins in Paoli, Pennsylvania in September of 2002. It was there he lived until middle school when he moved to Lewisberry, where he played his amateur ball at Red Land High School, a prominent regional baseball program.
Benny's high school career did not start the way he had hoped, as his coach Nate Ebbert had relegated him to junior varsity for his freshman season. "I've never been more mad as a human being in my life," Montgomery said of the situation. "Of course, that alone made me work harder to get to where I am. I learned work ethic- getting knocked down, getting right back up. Ebbert and I are best friends now." (MLB.com)
The work ethic learned by the sophomore was put onto display during his next year, where he batted .359 with 23 RBI, earning scholarships to multiple power D1 programs. Montgomery committed to the University of Virginia after his sophomore campaign. With a 6'4" frame, solid power and a speed tool that impacted the game offensively and defensively, the kid showcased real elite potential (Perfect Game).
Despite his 2020 school season being cancelled, Benny was able to participate in the Perfect Game All-America game, where he won the home run derby (Wikipedia). This momentum carried over to 2021, where the senior slashed a line of .420/7/22 plus 19 stolen bases on his way to being named the Gatorade Player of the Year.
The 2021 amateur draft rolled around come July 11th and the Colorado Rockies took a shot at the prep baller with their #8 pick. The #1 outfield prospect from Pennsylvania decided to forgo his commitment to UVA and signed a $5 million dollar bonus with the team. He played fourteen games for Colorado's rookie-level squad to close out the 2021 season, batting .340 with six RBI.
Montgomery was assigned to the Fresno Grizzlies in April of the 2022 season. As of the release of this article, he's hitting .309 with a .313 OBP, 3 HR and 13 RBI. His current 5:1 strikeout to walk ratio does limit his on base percentage and lower the impact he can have on the base paths. His spotless fielding percentage though has been an asset for the Grizzlies.
Unfortunately, the Rockies #4 prospect (MLB.com) has had two stints on the IL this season. He missed three weeks after hurting his quad on April 27th and was back on the injured list again just two games into his return with an undisclosed injury. Returning to action on June 25th, Benny's come out ripping a cool 15/43 at the plate. We're excited to continue watching his development as he continues his climb to Coors.
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@Choppinglines
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