Hawkeye recruit gets called up!

[Palmerhawk]

Braden Montgomery, Des Moines prep baseball star who ended up at Texas A & M is making his major league debut tonite in right field for White Sox vs Atlanta Braves .

Braden was drafted #13 overall by the Red Sox in 2023, then traded in 2024 to white Sox for star pitcher Gavin crochet.

Braden has had a strong start in AAA ball for Sox.
I believe that Iowa recruited Braden out of HS...if they did not, they should have.

 

[Hawkeyes19]

I've heard chatter about him, but didn't know until now that he was born in Des Moines. I read he grew up in Mississippi, any idea if he lived in Iowa?

 

[Palmerhawk]

Full disclosure: I only know he is listed as being from Des Moines.
His sister tweeted out that she is from Iowa and her husband from South side of Chicago and indicated that half of the crowd tonite to see Braden will be friends and family.

Sox fans are anxious to see him as he is considered one of top 3 Sox prospects.

 

[sultansofsuede]

I caught his first At bat on MLB network. Didn’t know of any Iowa ties. They showed his family in the stands. Pretty cool to see. He struck out and kind of hung his head walking away from home plate.I didn’t like seeing that for him. It’s a first at bat in the mlb and that isn’t easy, take it in and enjoy the day.

 

[BunchofAholes]

 

[Palmerhawk]

I caught his first At bat on MLB network. Didn’t know of any Iowa ties. They showed his family in the stands. Pretty cool to see. He struck out and kind of hung his head walking away from home plate.I didn’t like seeing that for him. It’s a first at bat in the mlb and that isn’t easy, take it in and enjoy the day.

His next at bat he got a oppo rbi hit with two outs to pull Sox within one run.
Sox down 5-4 in bottom of 10th,two outs, Montgomery hits 2 run walk off oppo homer to win 6-5.

Only 5th player in MLB history to hit walk off homer in debut.
Way to go ,Braden!

 

[eyesofhawk]

Run the ball

 

[Palmerhawk]

Rest of story:

Bradens mom, Gretchen, met bradens father, marcus Montgomery ,at Iowa where she went to undergrad and med school.
Marcus played football at Iowa.
Marcus was from Mississippi and the family moved down to jackson.
Evidently, they divorced, and Gretchen married Richard Willock, another Iowa football player out of Leo HS in Chicago.

Bradens older sister is in med school at case western.
His younger brother is 17 and a hot baseball prospect.
Braden followed up his historic debut with 2 doubles last nite( including one off of future HOF pitcher Chris Sale)scoring the winning run in a 2-1 win over braves and moving into 1st place for first time in 5 long years.

So yes, this is an Iowa football topic.
Bradens lower body looks like an NFL running back ,much like his dad.
Gonna be a star....and a very high character kid who took it upon himself to clean his teams dugout after games in AAA Charlotte without seeking attention
Hayden Fry,who recruited both of his dads would approve.
He had over 50 friends and family come to his debut with less than 18 hours notice.

 

[Hawkeyes19]

Richard Willock was quite the class act.