Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

The all-time leading scorer on the basketball court at Southridge HS (Huntingburg, Ind.) with 1,966 points, Montgomery had the opportunity to walk on Indiana's hoops team had he attended college on a baseball scholarship. Instead, he turned pro for $3,027,000 after the White Sox made him 22nd overall pick in the 2021 Draft. He reached Double-A at the end of his first full pro season before he was slowed by oblique and back injuries in his second, but he ranked as the Arizona Fall League's top prospect during the offseason and still is on track to make his big league debut in 2024.

As a large-framed, lefty-hitting shortstop with a huge offensive ceiling, Montgomery has drawn Corey Seager comparisons for years. Like Seager, he has plus power and is tapping into more often by launching balls in the air more consistently in 2023 and 2024. He has gotten more aggressive and his swing decisions have suffered as a result.

Montgomery continues to add strength without losing speed, though he's merely an average runner and some evaluators wonder if he'll outgrow shortstop. The White Sox have no such concerns, pointing to his quick first step and athleticism, and Seager has remained at short despite hearing the same questions. Montgomery's agility and solid arm strength should allow him to make an easy transition to third base if needed, and his bat should make him an All-Star wherever he plays.

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 60

One of the better two-sport athletes in the 2021 Draft, Montgomery was named Indiana's male high school athlete of the year after setting Southridge High's (Huntingburg, Ind.) basketball career scoring record and leading the Raiders to their first state 3-A baseball championship. Indiana offered him a baseball scholarship and the opportunity to walk on its basketball team, but he signed for $3,027,000 after the White Sox selected him 22nd overall. As a 6-foot-4 lefty-swinging shortstop with offensive upside, he repeatedly gets compared to Corey Seager.

Montgomery has impressed evaluators with his ability to make advanced swing decisions for a youngster, rarely chasing pitches out of the strike zone while laying off difficult offerings and pounding the ones he should. He has focused on controlling the zone, using the entire field and making consistent hard contact early in his pro career. With his hitting ability, bat speed, projectable strength and leverage, he should provide plus power once he starts launching more balls in the air. 

While it's natural to wonder if a big shortstop with average speed can stay at the position as he matures physically and slows a bit, the White Sox believe Montgomery will be able to do so. His quick first step and athleticism enable him to get to balls and his solid arm strength allows him to complete plays. Seager overcame similar doubts and even if Montgomery shifts to the hot corner, his bat still should make him a star.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

Indiana's 2020-21 male high school athlete of the year, Montgomery led Southridge High (Huntingburg) to its first state 3A baseball championship and also set the school's career basketball scoring record. Though he would have had the opportunity to walk on Indiana's basketball team had he accepted a baseball scholarship from the Hoosiers, the decision to turn pro became easy when the White Sox drafted him 22nd overall. The second-highest prep position player pick in his state's history, he signed for $3,027,000 and enjoyed a solid debut in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League. 

Because he's a 6-foot-4 lefty-hitting shortstop with impressive hitting ability and raw power, Montgomery draws repeated comparisons to Corey Seager. He has a smooth stroke and provided consistent contact in the ACL, where he made good swing decisions and focused on using the entire field rather than trying to do too much at the plate. He has the bat-to-ball skills, strength and bat speed to produce 25 or more homers per season as he learns to more consistently turn on pitches and launch them in the air. 

Though many amateur scouts believed Montgomery will outgrow shortstop as he fills out and slows a bit, the White Sox are confident he can stay at the position. He compensates for average speed with a quick first step and has the athleticism and solid arm strength to make plays. If he winds up not having enough range to remain at short, he would likely move to third base and could become a solid defender there.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

Indiana's 2020-21 male high school athlete of the year, Montgomery set the career basketball scoring record at Southridge High (Huntingburg, Ind.) and had the opportunity to walk on the hoops team at Indiana if he had gone to college. But his future is brighter in baseball, where he made continued improvement on the showcase circuit before his senior year, when he led Southridge to its first state 3-A championship. One of the more physical athletes in the 2021 prep class, he went 22nd overall to the White Sox in the first round and signed for $3,027,000.

As a 6-foot-4 lefty-hitting shortstop, Montgomery repeatedly draws Corey Seager comparisons and has the strength and bat speed to develop similar power. Though his pop stands out more than his hitting ability, he has a smooth stroke and should be able to hit for average as well. He's at his best when he uses the entire field rather than trying to pull pitches out of the park, and his approach has gotten more consistent during the last year.

Because he has fringy speed and figures to slow a bit as he matures physically, most scouts believe Montgomery will outgrow shortstop. He moves well for his size, however, and the White Sox will give him a chance to stick there. If he has to move to third base, he projects as at least an average defender with a solid arm.

Awards

Futures Game Selection

Year	Team
2024

AFL Rising Stars MVP

Year	Team
2023

AFL Rising Stars

Year	Team
2023

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	11/19/2024	Chicago White Sox selected the contract of SS Colson Montgomery from Charlotte Knights.
	09/25/2024	SS Colson Montgomery assigned to Glendale Desert Dogs.
	07/16/2024	Charlotte Knights activated SS Colson Montgomery.
	07/14/2024	American League Futures activated SS Colson Montgomery.
	07/12/2024	Charlotte Knights placed SS Colson Montgomery on the temporarily inactive list.
	03/29/2024	SS Colson Montgomery assigned to Charlotte Knights from Birmingham Barons.
	03/07/2024	Chicago White Sox Prospects activated SS Colson Montgomery.
	02/08/2024	Chicago White Sox invited non-roster SS Colson Montgomery to spring training.
	11/03/2023	SS Colson Montgomery assigned to American League Fall Stars.
	09/22/2023	Glendale Desert Dogs activated SS Colson Montgomery.
	08/01/2023	SS Colson Montgomery assigned to Birmingham Barons from Winston-Salem Dash.
	08/01/2023	Birmingham Barons activated SS Colson Montgomery.
	07/04/2023	Winston-Salem Dash activated SS Colson Montgomery from the 7-day injured list.
	06/05/2023	SS Colson Montgomery assigned to ACL White Sox.
	06/05/2023	Winston-Salem Dash sent SS Colson Montgomery on a rehab assignment to ACL White Sox.
	06/05/2023	Winston-Salem Dash sent SS Colson Montgomery on a rehab assignment to ACL White Sox.
	04/06/2023	Winston-Salem Dash placed SS Colson Montgomery on the 7-day injured list.
	04/05/2023	SS Colson Montgomery assigned to Winston-Salem Dash from Birmingham Barons.
	01/26/2023	SS Colson Montgomery roster status changed by Chicago White Sox.
	01/26/2023	Chicago White Sox invited non-roster SS Colson Montgomery to spring training.
	08/23/2022	SS Colson Montgomery assigned to Birmingham Barons from Winston-Salem Dash.
	06/24/2022	SS Colson Montgomery assigned to Winston-Salem Dash from Kannapolis Cannon Ballers.
	04/08/2022	SS Colson Montgomery assigned to Kannapolis Cannon Ballers.
	08/06/2021	SS Colson Montgomery assigned to ACL White Sox from White Sox Organization.
	07/31/2021	SS Colson Montgomery assigned to White Sox Organization.
	07/20/2021	Chicago White Sox signed SS Colson Montgomery.
	06/17/2020	SS Colson Montgomery assigned to PG National 6 - Maroon.
	06/17/2020	SS Colson Montgomery assigned to PG National 6 - Maroon.