Braden Montgomery vs. James Tibbs: Who's the better fit for Pittsburgh in 2024 MLB draft?
The Pittsburgh Pirates aced last year's MLB draft by picking flamethrower Paul Skenes with the No. 1 overall pick. The LSU product was inserted into the starting rotation in May and has been sensational for the Pirates since, going 6-0 in 11 starts with a 1.90 ERA and 89 strikeouts so far this season.
The sensational numbers handed the 6-foot-6 right-hander the starting nod for the National League All-Stars in the All-Star Game on Tuesday at Arlington, Texas.
This year, the Pirates are on the clock once again as they are at No. 9 in the 2024 MLB draft order. This time around, they have a chance of getting a high-caliber hitter who could emerge as their franchise player on the offensive side of the field.
Two standout batters in the just-concluded NCAA baseball tournament — Texas A&M's Braden Montgomery and Florida State's James Tibbs III — are being tabbed by MLB Pipeline as possible Top 10 picks in this year's draft.
Montgomery was one of three power hitters for the Aggies in the 2024 NCAA baseball season (the other two were Jace LaViolette and Gavin Grahovac) before succumbing to a leg injury in Game 1 of the Super Regional against Oregon. The injury sidelined him for the rest of the season, missing the College World Series and the Finals against eventual national champions Tennesssee.
On the other hand, Tibbs has provided the power bat for the Seminoles' super regional clincher against UConn, smacking three home runs and leading Florida State to a 10-8 win and the team's 24th College World Series appearance.
Here's a closer look at who among Tibbs or Montgomery is a better fit for the Pirates.
Braden Montgomery and James Tibbs III: Who is a better fit for Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024 MLB draft?
Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M Aggies
Braden Montgomery was a transfer student from Stanford University and proved that he was worth the signing for Texas A&M before that season-ending mishap. He played 61 games with the Aggies under coach Jim Schlossnagle and was one of the top contributors in offense. He hit .322 with 27 home runs and 85 RBIs.
The 6-foot-2 Montgomery had an on-base and slugging percentages of .454 and .733, respectively, and tallied 65 runs and 173 total bases this past season. In defense, the right-fielder/centerfielder had 91 putouts and three assists with three errors for an excellent fielding percentage of .969.
Montgomery is a great option on the Pirates' centerfield or rightfield as Michael A. Taylor and Andrew McCutchen are now 33 and 37, respectively.
James Tibbs III, 1B/OF, Florida State Seminoles
James Tibbs III played for three seasons with Florida State and saw improvements in his production as the years went by. This season, Tibbs played a career-high 66 games, thanks to the Seminoles' stint in the regionals, super regionals and the College World Series. He hit .363 and smacked 28 home runs and 95 RBIs along the way.
The home run and RBI numbers for 2024 eclipsed the total production in the past two seasons combined (27 HRs and 75 RBIs in 2022 and 2023). Tibbs had an on-base percentage of .488 and a slugging rate of .777. In defense, the first baseman/outfielder is a can't-miss prospect, tallying 112 putouts and six assists for an almost-perfect .992 fielding percentage.
Tibbs could fill the immediate Pirates' need for a powerful first baseman as current position holders, Connor Joe and Rowdy Tellez, have a combined 15 home runs and 58 RBIs this season.
Who should the Pittsburgh Pirates draft?
Tibbs is arguably a better pick for the Pirates if the team wants to go for an infielder who can hit and defend the first base consistently. Montgomery is no pushover either, as he has ably manned the outfield and delivered the big hits for Stanford and Texas A&M during his three years in college. Both players could be a foundation piece for the next-generation Pirates and can partner with Skenes on the defensive side.
It's a matter of who the Pittsburgh managerial staff wanted more between these two hitters, who are capable of turning their future teams around with a slam of their bats.
Who will the Pittsburgh Pirates pick as the ninth overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft, James Tibbs or Braden Montgomery? Let us know your views in the comments section.