Colson Montgomery didn’t need a broadcast to make noise.
Sep 20, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery (12) celebrates in the dugout after he scores during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
In the bottom of the fourth inning at Camelback Ranch, the White Sox shortstop delivered the kind of swing that travels well beyond a box score. Facing Reds right-hander Lyon Richardson, Montgomery worked a patient 3-0 count before getting a 94.3 mph fastball at the top of the zone.
He didn’t take it.
Instead of accepting the walk, Montgomery attacked — and demolished the pitch 421 feet over the right-field wall. The ball left his bat at 104.6 mph with a towering 37-degree launch angle.
It was loud. It was effortless. And it was exactly what White Sox fans wanted to see.
This wasn’t just any spring homer.
Sep 26, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery (12) hits a two run home run against the Washington Nationals during the ninth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images | Brad Mills-Imagn Images
Montgomery entered camp with more expectations than perhaps any returning player on the roster. After debuting on July 4 last season, he quickly injected life into a struggling clubhouse. Over 71 games, he crushed 21 home runs and flashed the kind of left-handed power that changes a lineup.
For a month, he looked like a future cornerstone.
An August slump tempered some of that excitement, serving as a reminder that development isn’t linear. But even with the inevitable adjustment period, Montgomery’s rookie campaign was a success.
He finished with a .239/.311/.529 slash line and 55 RBIs — impressive numbers for a 23-year-old adjusting to major league pitching. His 14.4 percent barrel rate underscored just how real the power is.
The swing-and-miss, however, remains the next hurdle.
Montgomery struck out 83 times in 255 at-bats, hovering around a 30 percent strikeout rate. For him to take the next step in 2026, improving contact consistency will be critical. The White Sox can live with some strikeouts — especially if the power remains — but trimming that number even modestly would elevate his overall profile.
Wednesday’s at-bat offered a glimpse of growth.
He controlled the count. He waited for his pitch. And when he got it, he didn’t miss.
Defensively, Montgomery is locked in as the team’s primary shortstop for now. He performed better than some anticipated last season, showing enough range and arm strength to stick at the position in the short term.
Long term, there will be competition. With the White Sox holding the projected No. 1 overall pick and UCLA’s Roch Cholowsky surging, the future infield picture could get crowded.
But that conversation can wait.
For now, the focus is simple: build on 2025.
Spring training homers don’t count in the standings. They don’t silence skeptics. But they can reinforce belief — internally and externally.
Montgomery’s 421-foot blast was more than a highlight. It was a reminder of why the White Sox are betting on him to anchor their turnaround.
One swing won’t define his season.
But it was a powerful way to begin it.
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