Colson Montgomery will start the 2024 season in AAA with the Charlotte Knights, per James Fox of FutureSox. This promotion is a somewhat unexpected development, given Montgomery’s inexperience. The White Sox clearly have the utmost confidence in their #1 prospect heading into the new season.
Montgomery’s Immense Minor League Success
The White Sox first-round pick in the 2021 draft, Montgomery has lived up to every bit of the hype so far. The 22-year-old, 6′ 4″, 225-pound left-handed hitting shortstop has flown through the minors, excelling at every level he has played at. Montgomery has shown exceptional talent with the bat, especially in consistently getting on base at a high clip. He has also improved defensively at shortstop as well. Some scouts question if Montgomery can stick at the position long-term, but he has quashed those concerns thus far. He looks to be the White Sox shortstop of the future.
His immense success in the minors has made his prospect stock soar, as he is now the White Sox #1 prospect and the #9 prospect in all of MLB. Drawing comparisons to Texas Rangers All-Star shortstop Corey Seager because of his physical build and skill set, Montgomery is the total package of talent in all facets of the game.
Aggressive Promotion
Despite Montgomery’s talent and success, starting him in AAA this season feels like an aggressive assignment. After all, he has only played 51 career games in AA and hit just .150 in 26 official plate appearances this spring. Many players in Montgomery’s current position would start the season in AA and then get promoted to AAA once they have more of a track record of success at the AA level. That is not the case for Montgomery, however.
Despite his struggles this spring, one cannot read too deeply into such a small sample size. While starting in AAA is probably an aggressive assignment for him to begin the year, there is nothing in Montgomery’s past minor league track record to indicate that he cannot make the most of the challenge. Montgomery has handled every challenge the White Sox organization has given him. The White Sox must wholeheartedly believe in his ability to handle the highest level of the minor leagues.
Montgomery’s MLB ETA
The White Sox starting Montgomery’s season in AAA also gives insight into his ETA to the big leagues. Given that he has never played in AAA before, he will likely remain at that level for at least a few months, regardless of his performance. There is no reason whatsoever for the White Sox to rush him. A June or July call-up to Chicago seems feasible if he performs well in AAA. His ETA might be closer to August or September if he struggles initially. Paul DeJong is currently the White Sox shortstop, but he is merely a placeholder. He will be moved to the side whenever the organization deems Montgomery ready for the big leagues.
Final Word
Colson Montgomery could be the future face of the White Sox. He is the organization’s best prospect, and every step he takes closer to the big leagues is something to follow and celebrate. He will be the shortstop on the south side of Chicago shortly, and hopefully, he will be one of the centerpieces in a new era of White Sox baseball.
