White Sox

White Sox Colson Montgomery Embracing the Growing Pains

By / / Affiliate Visits, Analysis, Minors

The White Sox decided at the beginning of the season to send their top prospect straight to Triple-A Charlotte following just 37 games in Double-A Birmingham. The 22-year-old was excellent last year but dealt with some minor injuries that prevented him from getting a full season of at-bats in his second full professional season. The infielder was also one of the top prospects who played regularly in the Arizona Fall League to close out last season as well.

He finished the year with a total of just 223 at-bats between three levels including rehab games in the Arizona Complex League. The top prospect was drafted out of high school in 2021, but had less than 150 affiliated games under his belt entering this season.

Montgomery’s talent is undeniable and he has proven to be one of the most talented players around Minor League Baseball over the past two years. However, every prospect is bound to have difficulties along the way that force them to adjust. For Montgomery, it really didn’t happen until he reached the highest level of Minor League Baseball.

“There have been some struggles this year but everybody goes through struggles, that’s how you find out what your weaknesses are” Montgomery said about his season in Charlotte. He has had to adapt this year and he welcomes the challenge. The Indiana native continued to candidly explain “I’m kind of happy I’m going through this stuff as I’m figuring out the kind of person I am and the player I’m going to be in the future.”

White Sox’s Montgomery in Triple-A

Through 98 games with the Charlotte Knights this year, Montgomery has slashed .204/.326/.373 with 13 home runs and 16 doubles. The power output has still been apparent and has he posted some impressive exit velocities as he did the years prior.

With a developed approach at the plate, Montgomery has still earned a rather strong walk rate of 12.3% but his swing-and-miss has shifted as he has worked to tap into more power at the next level against higher-level pitching. His strikeout rate has risen from 21.6% in Birmingham to 28.5% this year in Charlotte.

Montgomery realizes that pitchers, especially those with MLB experience, like many in Triple-A, are game planning for him more than ever before in his career.

He explained that young pitchers at lower levels are often working on their personal ability to locate pitches more than working to get specific hitters out directly. In Triple-A, pitchers are pitching to force Montgomery into swings that he doesn’t want to be taking.

Some are beginning to panic about Montgomery’s struggles this season but there really isn’t a reason to do so at this point. The reality is that the organization starting him in Triple-A set the expectation that he would reach Chicago this year but that doesn’t need to happen in order for him to succeed eventually at the MLB level.

White Sox
via: Sean Williams/FutureSox

White Sox Have Specific Plan

He’s still rather young for this level and with a lack of games played in comparison to most of his peers, time is still on his side. Montgomery’s attitude remains positive and he’s handling himself very well for someone with this level of pressure on him.

Remaining in Charlotte for the rest of the season makes sense right now for him. He’s making adjustments and will continue to do so in order to figure out what works best long-term. There is way too much talent here to give up while he’s knocking on the doorstep to the big league. The White Sox could promote Montgomery prior to the season’s conclusion but it’s not a necessity and he’ll be a factor for the 2024 club in Chicago regardless.