Boom or bust, the White Sox turn one of the final pages in their rebuild
No need to go out and buy fireworks, because Colson Montgomery is finally making his MLB debut. Ninety-nine days past his original planned debut date, the onetime White Sox No. 1 position player prospect will take his first major league at-bat against the worst team in baseball on July 4.
Chicago’s touted 22nd overall pick in the 2021 draft was penned-in as the starting shortstop before the calendar year turned over despite slashing just .214/.329/.381 with 18 home runs in 130 games in 2024. But Chris Getz put the cart before the horse, as Montgomery’s spring was far from promising: 1-for-9 with a home run and pair of RBIs while missing 10 spring training games due to back issues. Quietly, the Opening Day shortstop was optioned to Triple-A.
Montgomery continued to concern Sox fans, who aren’t strangers to disappointing position player draft picks. The lefty batted well short of the Mendoza Line and slugged less than .300 with just three home runs in 23 games; in case it needs to be spelled out, that’s extremely inadequate for a first-round draft pick with above-average power. The struggling 23-year-old was sent to Arizona for two weeks to improve his mechanics, and returned looking rejuvenated. With a new head on his shoulders, Montgomery has slashed .270/.353/.574 with eight home runs and 24 RBIs in 32 games since.
So, why are the Sox finally ready to test Montgomery’s hitting against big league pitching?
Brett’s speculation aside, the timing might make some sense.
MLB’s All-Star week presents the perfect window for Montgomery’s introduction to the majors. Starting on July 4, the Sox have 10 games left in the first half, seven against teams on cold streaks, before the Midsummer Classic. If Montgomery’s recent Triple-A success is just a fluke, the Sox have a convenient break to option him back to Charlotte without incurring much service time. But if he at least plays up to par with Miguel Vargas, who leads the team with a .233 batting average (God help us all), then the All-Star week gives Montgomery a few extra rest days. Montgomery’s tryout will also inform Chicago’s future shortstop strategy at the 2025 draft and trade deadline.
As with most of the Sox’s roster moves this year, promotions from the minors are primarily compelled by convenience, not skill. Although Montgomery has clawed his way back into fair graces in the coaching staff’s eyes, Sox fans will have an eyebrow raised until he proves to be just as solid defensively and at the plate as Edgar Quero, Kyle Teel and Chase Meidroth, who have quickly lived up to their expectations.
Regardless of how he plays, Montgomery’s promotion marks a turning point in the Sox’s rebuild chapter. Staring down a likely gutting of the team at the trade deadline, the Sox look to Montgomery and the rest of the young crew to push Chicago from 41 wins to 91 games over the next few years.