Benny Montgomery, the eighth overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, has retired from professional baseball at the age of 23 after a career that never progressed beyond the minor leagues.
The former Colorado Rockies prospect stepped away from the game during his fourth professional season. Playing for the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats in 2026, Montgomery struggled at the plate, hitting .203 with a .272 on-base percentage and a .372 slugging percentage. While those numbers represented a slight improvement from his difficult 2025 campaign, his production declined again in June, when he posted a .179 batting average.
Injuries and Offensive Struggles Take Their Toll
The decision comes despite signs of optimism earlier in the season. After undergoing shoulder surgery following a dislocation in 2024, Montgomery spent the offseason rebuilding strength and overhauling his swing mechanics.
“I made a lot of adjustments in the offseason, just trying to quiet some movements down,” Montgomery told reporters in May. “My approach has been working out. I had a little bit of a slow start, but I was able to figure some things out and really trust my stuff and I’m getting my confidence back.”
At the time, Montgomery said he felt as good as he had since 2024. However, the improvements did not translate into sustained production. His offensive numbers slipped again as the season progressed, and he has not publicly explained the reason behind his retirement.
A Highly Touted Prospect With Big Expectations
Montgomery entered professional baseball with significant expectations. A standout at Red Land High School in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, he was named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year and attracted interest from major college programs including Virginia, Stanford, Duke, and North Carolina.
Although committed to Virginia, he signed with Colorado after receiving a reported $5 million bonus as the eighth overall selection in the 2021 draft.
His professional career showed flashes of promise. At the Low-A level, Montgomery hit .313 with a .394 on-base percentage and a .502 slugging percentage, numbers that suggested he could eventually develop into a major league outfielder.
However, his progress stalled after reaching High-A, where his strikeout rate climbed to 27 percent. While there were moments that hinted at a turnaround, consistency remained elusive throughout his time in the Rockies’ system.
Another Setback for the Rockies’ Draft Track Record
Montgomery’s retirement adds another disappointing chapter to the Rockies’ recent first-round draft history. Several players selected after him in the 2021 draft have already established themselves in the majors, including Bryan Woo, James Wood, Jackson Merrill, Mason Miller, and Andrew Abbott.
Colorado has also dealt with setbacks involving more recent first-round selections. In 2025, fourth-overall pick Ethan Holliday suffered a stress fracture in his left foot and underwent season-ending surgery. The son of former Rockies star Matt Holliday is expected to continue his development after recovering from the injury.
Meanwhile, 2024 first-round pick Charlie Condon suffered a broken wrist while playing in High-A last season. He has since recovered and is currently playing for Triple-A Albuquerque.
What once appeared to be the beginning of a promising baseball career has now come to an unexpectedly early end, with Montgomery stepping away from the game before reaching the major leagues.
