White Sox fans have heard plenty of promises over the past few seasons.
This time, the tone feels different.
At least that’s what Colson Montgomery is saying — and it’s exactly the kind of message Chicago fans have been waiting to hear.
The 24-year-old shortstop, widely viewed as a cornerstone of the franchise’s future, recently spoke with Chuck Garfien of the Chicago Sports Network and didn’t hold back about the team’s outlook for 2026.
“I think it’s easy to say that we will surprise people,” Montgomery said. “And we’re not even thinking it’s a surprise. We all believe it.”
For a franchise that has spent the past few years near the bottom of the standings, that kind of confidence is significant.
A Roster That Suddenly Looks Different
Part of Montgomery’s optimism comes from a dramatically reshaped roster.
General manager Chris Getz was unusually aggressive this offseason, bringing in a mix of veteran reinforcements to complement the club’s growing young core.
Among the notable additions:
- Munetaka Murakami
- Seranthony Domínguez
- Austin Hays
- Sean Newcomb
- Jordan Hicks
Murakami in particular could be a game-changer. Fangraphs projects the Japanese slugger to hit around 30 home runs in his first MLB season.
Those additions give the White Sox something they’ve lacked recently: a balance of experience and youthful upside.
The Young Core Is Already Emerging
Chicago also got a glimpse of its future last season.
Several young players showed flashes of becoming long-term contributors, including:
- Colson Montgomery
- Chase Meidroth
- Kyle Teel
- Edgar Quero
On the pitching side, arms like Shane Smith, Grant Taylor, Mike Vasil, and Jordan Leasure also made strong impressions.
And there’s more help coming from the farm system.
When you look at the roster on paper, it’s easy to see why players inside the clubhouse feel encouraged.
But Montgomery insists it goes beyond talent.
Belief Inside the Clubhouse
For Montgomery, the biggest difference between past teams and the current one isn’t statistics — it’s mindset.
“I’ve been here for five years now, and even last year it was different,” he said. “Felt a little different. And now this year, everything is just trending in the right direction.”
More importantly, he believes the entire roster has bought into that direction.
“It’s not like we think we have the pieces, we think it could go right,” Montgomery added. “No. We’ve seen it happen. We have seen us win. We believe that’s what is going to happen.”
That kind of internal confidence can matter more than fans sometimes realize. Many breakout teams begin with players believing they’re ready before the rest of the league notices.
The Real Test Still Awaits
Of course, optimism in March doesn’t guarantee success in September.
A 162-game season will test this roster’s depth, resilience, and ability to handle adversity. Injuries, slumps, and losing streaks are inevitable.
How the team responds will ultimately determine whether this new era is real or just hopeful talk.
But for now, the message coming from one of the White Sox’s most important players is clear.
The clubhouse believes something special could be building on the South Side.
And for a fanbase that’s been waiting for a reason to believe again, that’s exactly what they wanted to hear.
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