GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Major League visions should be getting more vivid and realistic for Braden Montgomery, who is the top White Sox prospect and No. 36 overall, per MLB Pipeline.
But the switch-hitting outfielder’s quick ascension toward Chicago won’t alter the approach or mindset to his game.
“I’ve thought about the big leagues since I was 7. It’s not like it changes anything I’m going to do,” Montgomery told MLB.com prior to Tuesday’s workouts. “All I can do is what’s in front of me at this time and then [in] 30 minutes move to the next thing.
“The next day, move to the next thing. You can do all the daydreaming you want to do but I’ve got to still do what’s in front of me and that will come eventually.”
As of mid-February, the ‘26 White Sox outfield features Andrew Benintendi and Austin Hays, with Luisangel Acuña and Brooks Baldwin competing for the center field slot vacated by the trade of Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets. The team also has Everson Pereira, who received plaudits from manager Will Venable Tuesday, the strong defense of Derek Hill and the intriguing addition of non-roster invite Jarred Kelenic.
There still will be a runway -- one of the favorite expressions of general manager Chris Getz -- for Montgomery during Spring Training, although he won’t break camp with the team. There’s no reason to rush the 22-year-old.
With a slash line of .270/.360/.444 to go with 12 home runs, 68 RBIs, 64 runs scored, 34 doubles and 14 stolen bases across 2025 stops at Single-A Kannapolis, High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham, there’s every reason to challenge him.
“How do we utilize all the skills?” said White Sox director of hitting Ryan Fuller on Montgomery. “He’s a gifted outfielder, he’s got speed. An unbelievable arm and now putting together a full season at higher levels and we want him to face every challenge possible.
“He has really high expectations of where he’s going to be and we want to push him but making sure he hits each level and he dominates that level. So wherever he starts, we want to make sure he’s absolutely ready for the next step. … All these guys, the goal is when you get to Chicago, you stay in Chicago and you help win championships.”
Hearing talk of challenges simply reinforces Montgomery’s inherent belief.
“Before any of that stuff, I challenge myself more than anything,” Montgomery said. “As much as they want me to be a good player, I want to be and have wanted to be the best player and so it’s not anything necessarily new to me.
“That’s how I’ve always lived my life and lived my baseball career: If I’m going to get better, I have to put myself into positions where I can get better. You are not going to get better doing the same things you’ve done or things you are going to be comfortable doing.”
Infielder Sam Antonacci is part of this next wave of White Sox prospects with Montgomery, right-hander Tanner McDougal, and left-handers Noah Schultz (No. 49 prospect overall) and Hagen Smith (No. 72) who all could hit the Majors in ‘26. Antonacci played alongside Montgomery with Winston-Salem and the Southern League champion Barons, before Montgomery was sidelined on Sept. 6 by a small fracture in his right foot after being hit by a pitch.
They also were together during successful runs with Glendale in the last Arizona Fall League. So, Antonacci knows about the player and the person.
“He’s a good teammate. That’s the biggest thing I take away,” Antonacci said. “Just fun to be around, and he’s definitely a hard worker. He pushes his teammates. Just a grinder too. Every tough AB he takes is a good AB for the team. I’m just excited to be playing alongside him and not against him.”
People might forget the ‘25 campaign marked Montgomery’s first professional season at any level. He carries that experience and knowledge into ‘26, with excitement brought on by the greater challenges ahead.
“Baseball is tough, and you gotta fine-tune the details and figure out what’s going to make you successful,” Montgomery said. “Keep stacking good things on good things and they will lead to good things.”
“Everything he does is with a purpose,” Venable said. “He’s an extremely physical guy that has put on good weight and looks great out there. He’s a very driven guy. Those types of guys want feedback and want to do everything they can to continue to get better and Braden is just a guy who is really hungry to get better. It’s one of those guys you really like to coach.”