Colson Montgomery is lighting up the Arizona Fall League. His discipline and hitting display give Chicago White Sox fans something to hold out for.
According to MLB Pipeline, Montgomery is the 37th-ranked prospect in baseball and third in the White Sox organization. At 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, his frame allows for a high power-hitting ceiling. That power showed during this season after cranking 18 home runs, but his first season in Triple-A saw major regression in most categories.
Montgomery’s strikeout rate jumped from 21.6% to 28.6% after the promotion. Along with that, he walked less and saw his wRC+ drop to below league average. The White Sox fanbase grew concerned after he finished the season with a slash line of .214/.329/.381/.710 despite facing weaker pitching in a ballpark that favors hitters.
Colson Montgomery OVER THE BERM!
MLB’s No. 37 prospect (@whitesox) absolutely destroys his second @MLBazFallLeague homer of the year. pic.twitter.com/O4HbU1ZUUB
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 23, 2024
Colson’s Montgomery’s Resurgence in Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League showcases some of the best young talents in the minors, with players like Tre’ Morgan, Xavier Isaac, Bryce Eldridge, Chase DeLauter, and others.
Montgomery currently holds a slash line of .400/.613/.650/1.263, adding two home runs and nine runs driven in. However, the most intriguing aspect of his play so far is his strikeout-to-walk ratio. In the first eight games, Montgomery is tied for second in walks with nine while not having struck out.
In a season where the White Sox were the laughingstock of baseball, Montgomery and other top prospects were the only areas for fans to have hope in. The Sox currently have four players in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list, with Noah Schultz (#16), Hagen Smith (#30), and Edgar Quero (#59) joining Montgomery.
White Sox Future Moving Forward
After losing 121 games, the White Sox could look to build around their prospects along with the proven few players on their roster. Garrett Crochet dodged being traded at the deadline, looking for an extension after a season in which he put up 4.1 bWAR and 201 strikeouts. Luis Robert Jr. is the other piece who could find another team this offseason, though the 27-year-old is signed through 2025 with options for 2026 and 2027.
With that in mind, building a roster around Crochet and Robert might be possible. They acquired former Los Angeles Dodgers top prospect Miguel Vargas at the trade deadline. He is projected to be Chicago’s everyday third basemen. A future Sox lineup and rotation could look like this in a few seasons:
Lineup:
- Miguel Vargas, 2B
- Colson Montgomery, 3B
- Luis Robert Jr. CF
- Andrew Vaughn, 1B
- Edgar Quero, DH/C
- Gavin Sheets, RF
- Korey Lee, DH/C
- Zach DeLoach, LF
- Caleb Bonemer, SS
Rotation:
- Garrett Crochet, LHP
- Noah Shultz, LHP
- Hagen Smith, LHP
- Jairo Iriarte, RHP
- Sean Burke, RHP
Photo Credit: © Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
