Montas displays velocity in Futures Game

CINCINNATI -- There has never been any doubt about White Sox No. 2 prospect Frankie Montas' potential. Montas' plus fastball frequently tops 100 mph, but it hasn't been until this season that Montas, 22, has seemed able to harness that heater.

Montas is 2-1 with a 2.47 ERA at Double-A Birmingham, and he was given a spot on the World Team in the Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game in a 10-1 loss to the U.S. Team. He was also selected last year, but knee surgery kept him out of the game.

"Being selected again, it was just amazing," Montas said, smiling.

Though Montas did pop his fastball to 101 mph in the Futures Game, it wasn't the outing he was hoping for: two-thirds of an inning, four hits and three earned runs.

As for the first half this season, Montas said, "It's going really well. I've been pitching better lately and really commanding my fastball."

Actually, it's the development of his breaking stuff that White Sox officials are keeping an eye on.

Kirk Champion, White Sox Minor League field coordinator and former pitching coordinator, said, "It's still the plus stuff that everybody is talking about from the get go. But he's starting to develop his other pitches and putting together more solid outings in back-to-back innings and back-to-back games. Plus stuff and getting it all together."

As for that fastball, Montas said he has brought it to 102 mph this season.

"People expect that from me," Montas said. "But I know I have to work on all my pitches."

Montas was acquired by the White Sox in a 2013 three-team trade that sent Jake Peavy to the Red Sox, Jose Iglesias to the Tigers and Avisail Garcia to the White Sox. Montas was one of three Minor Leaguers that the White Sox acquired.