The 2021 MLB Draft will begin on July 11, 2021. We take a look at Colson Montgomery, a power-hitting shortstop with a solid bat but uncertain defensive future.
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Colson Montgomery, Shortstop, Southridge (Ind.)
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 190 lbs.
Age: 19
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Scouting Grades
Hit: 50
Power: 55
Run: 45
Field: 50
Throw: 50
Montgomery is a talented hitter who is able to use all parts of the field and also produce power while limiting swings and misses. He’s a solid fielder, too, with a reliable arm.
Strengths
When it comes to strengths, Montgomery’s power instantly stands out. He is able to create great leverage and loft at the plate to generate plenty of pop. As he grows more and gets stronger, the potential for power—which is his top trait—will only increase. He has also built consistency at the plate by pushing baseballs all throughout the park rather than focusing primarily on pulling balls to right field. This will lead to more hits and fewer strikeouts, so it’s certainly something that scouts have been pleased by.
Montgomery, who played shortstop in high school, is also a solid fielder. With a height of 6-foot-4, Montgomery has plenty of weight and strength to gain, which will necessitate a move to third base. Still, considering how well he played shortstop, moving to the hot corner does not pose a concern. While not flashy or loud in the field, he has solid glovework and a very accurate arm to first.
Athleticism is clearly a top trait for Montgomery, too. He was a basketball star in high school, setting countless records at Southridge. He’s fully focused on baseball now. While he’s passing on a future in basketball, the athleticism that accompanied his immense success still remains in place and will certainly carry over to his career in baseball.
Weaknesses
Running is Montgomery’s biggest weakness. Already a fringe runner, he will likely lose a step as he gains some weight and fills in his frame. This is necessary for him to take that next step in his career, but it’s unfortunately a sacrifice that will hinder him on the basepaths. Of course, it also means he has played his final game at shortstop.
Speaking of a switch to third base, it is fair to question just how well Montgomery will adapt to a new position. He’s not a super hard thrower, and while he’s been accurate when throwing from shortstop to first base, throwing from third to first is fairly different.
Pro Comparison: Corey Seager
MLB Pipeline has a really good comparison for Montgomery, so I’m going to borrow it with full credit to them. They said that Montgomery’s “frame resembles Corey Seager’s at the same stage of their careers and he has the strength and bat speed to develop similar pop.”
Seager, who is now 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, was able to stick at shortstop long-term, which is interesting because that seems quite unlikely for Montgomery. The Los Angeles Dodger is a two-time All-Star, three-time National League champion, World Series champion, NLCS MVP, World Series MVP, former Rookie of the Year, three-time MVP candidate, and two-time Silver Slugger. Now 27, he owns a .293/.362/.485 slash line with 92 homers and 329 runs batted in through 578 games.
Draft Projection: Second-Round Pick
I am really curious to see where Montgomery gets drafted. His offensive profile is fairly projectable, but his ultimate landing spot could come down to whether teams view him as a shortstop or third baseman. He presents a really intriguing case and will likely be drafted in either the second or early third round this July.
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Main Image Credit: MaCabe Brown/Courier & Press
