The White Sox are adding some reinforcements with one of the top prospects in all of baseball.
As first reported by Matt Snyder of CBS and later confirmed, the Chicago White Sox plan to call up outfielder Braden Montgomery from Triple-A Charlotte ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Atlanta Braves. Montgomery, a switch-hitting slugger, is currently ranked as the 23rd best prospect in all of baseball and the 2nd best prospect in the White Sox farm system, according to MLB Pipeline. A corresponding move has not yet been announced.
Montgomery, who recently turned 23, was drafted by the Red Sox with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. His professional debut was delayed by an ankle injury that cut short his junior season. He was traded to the White Sox as part of the package to acquire Garrett Crochet in the offseason before the 2025 season.
Montgomery has a prototypical right-fielder profile, with plus power potential and a cannon of an arm that comes from his time spent as a pitcher who could hit the mid-90s with his fastball. The White Sox have split his defensive reps between right and center field, however, so it remains to be seen where he will ultimately end up.
Regardless of what outfield spot he holds, his bat is his calling card. The switch-hitter can generate double-plus raw power with his elite bat speed, and has refined his approach at the plate during his minor league career. This season, split evenly between Double-A and Triple-A, he has slashed .314/.422/.548 with a 152 wRCP and 10 home runs. He has increased his walk rate by about 4% from his numbers last year, while remaining steady throughout his minor league career at a roughly 25% strikeout rate.
This season, Montgomery has demonstrated a better ability to pick and choose when he swings, while still tapping into the power he possesses. His average exit velocity sits at 93 mph, which is good for 97th percentile in Triple-A. More impressively, his Z-Swing% currently sits in the 90th percentile, and hisO-Swing % is at the 73rd percentile. The plus swing decisions combined with his ability to hit the ball as hard as anyone should allow his success to translate at the MLB level, even if he is still improving his bat-to-ball skills.
Prior to Triston Peters’ breakout, Montgomery looked poised to eventually take over the center field position. However, with his current play and the hole in right field that injuries to Everson Periera and Austin Hays have left, expect Montgomery to primarily fill in that open corner.
Follow us on social media @SoxOn35th for more!
Featured Photo: milb.com
