Colson Montgomery’s road to the majors took another dramatic turn Friday night in Denver, where he made a memorable debut for the Chicago White Sox. The 23-year-old shortstop, a former first-round pick, finally stepped onto a major league field during the series opener against the Colorado Rockies — and made an instant impact.
Montgomery’s moment came early in the game, flashing his defensive skills with a diving, over-the-shoulder catch that saved a run and halted a potential scoring threat for Colorado. It was the kind of play that felt like a statement — a reminder of why he’s been viewed as a future cornerstone for the franchise since being drafted in 2021.
Getting to this point, however, wasn’t without setbacks. Originally projected to make the Opening Day roster, Montgomery’s spring was derailed by a lingering back issue and an unproductive bat. A tough stretch in Triple-A Charlotte led to a reset in Arizona, where the team sent him to work on his swing and rebuild confidence.
But things clicked recently. Montgomery went on a tear in Charlotte, going 12-for-29 with four home runs in a week, pushing the White Sox to finally give him his shot. Running onto the field at Coors Field, he was calm and composed — just playing “carefree,” as he put it before the game.
In the first inning, he cleanly fielded a 104-mph ground ball from Tyler Freeman for his first out as a big-leaguer. His first trip to the plate was eventful too, drawing a catcher’s interference call on a 3-2 count after breaking his bat on a soft grounder.
But the moment of the night came in the field, when Montgomery tracked a two-out fly ball from Ryan Ritter into shallow left and made a highlight-reel diving grab to strand a runner on third. It was a defensive gem that would make any web highlight reel.
Denver holds extra meaning for Montgomery — it’s the city where he was selected 22nd overall in the 2021 MLB Draft. And now, he returned as a major leaguer, launching balls into the evergreens during his first batting practice session in the thin Colorado air.
White Sox manager Will Venable praised the timing of Montgomery’s promotion, noting the power he’s shown lately and how it can inject life into the team’s struggling offense.
“He’s hitting the ball really hard and performing well — this is the right moment for him,” Venable said.
Montgomery understands the highs and lows. After his return from Arizona in May, his form dipped again by mid-June. But he’s not hiding from that.
“Some players don’t want to admit when they’ve struggled, but I’ve been through it,” he said. “Those ups and downs — that’s how you grow.”
Earlier this week, the White Sox shared a behind-the-scenes video of Montgomery getting the call from Charlotte manager Sergio Santos. The emotional footage showed Montgomery finding out he’d be flying to Denver to join the big-league roster. His family quickly changed their travel plans to be there for his debut.
Despite the hype surrounding his name, Montgomery is keeping his mindset grounded.
“It’s never just one guy,” he said. “I know people want to label someone as the face of a rebuild, but that can add pressure. I’m just focused on doing my part.”
