CHICAGO -- Why is Braden Montgomery prepared for Major League Baseball?
That specific question was answered by the No. 21 prospect overall and No. 2 White Sox prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, after he was called up from Triple-A Charlotte for Tuesday’s series-opening contest against the Braves at Rate Field.
“It's all I've been thinking about and dreaming about since I decided I want to pursue baseball,” Montgomery told the media before his first career start, batting sixth and playing right field. “So while I don't really know what it will all entail, I know that I've gone into this day giving it my best shot.
“Whatever happens,” Montgomery added. “I can live with the results."
It turned out the results were easy to live with and will be impossible to forget, as Montgomery made history with a walk-off homer in his Major League debut, giving the White Sox a 6-5 win over the Braves in 11 innings on Tuesday night. He went 2-for-5, also picking up an RBI single for his first big league hit.
Montgomery, 23, slashed .314/.422/.548 with 10 home runs, 41 RBIs and 52 runs scored across stops with Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A this season. The switch-hitter, taken with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 Draft, has played right field and center field during this season’s Minor League assignments, with general manager Chris Getz adding that he also can handle left field but hasn’t had the same runway at the position.
His promotion marks the fourth of four players acquired from Boston in the Garrett Crochet deal from Dec. 11, 2024 to reach the Majors with the White Sox. Chase Meidroth currently is starting at second base for the White Sox, while catcher Kyle Teel has not played a Major League inning this season due to right hamstring and right knee issues after being one of the team’s top players following his big league arrival in 2025. Reliever Wikelman González excelled across 16 outings as a rookie last season but has been on the injured list at Triple-A since April.
“We feel like it was a quality trade,” said Getz of the Crochet deal. “To be able to get that level of contributions from pretty much everyone in that trade is significant, and making trades is never easy for both sides.
“You try to make educated decisions. We feel like we made the right one and we just love what these guys are about. We feel like they embody what the White Sox [are about with] how they approach everything on a daily basis. The production on the field is most important, but they fit in really well in the clubhouse and they are out there to win every night.”
Charlotte manager Chad Pinder called Montgomery on Monday’s off-day to alert him of the promotion. He arrived in Chicago on Tuesday morning, even getting recognized by a fan at the airport. Manager Will Venable plans to use Montgomery’s talents on a regular basis.
“He's here to play,” Venable said. “We're not going to call him up here and sit him on the bench. He's a guy that we're excited to have in the lineup on a daily basis. He projects as an above-average right fielder, above-average center fielder, but I think as we're constructed right now, would probably mostly be right field. Excited to have him out there.”
"I'm a fun, dynamic player,” Montgomery said. “I enjoy being with my teammates, being around them, feeding off what they do. I like to think I can do a whole lot of different things on the ball field, so I'll be able to make it happen, to try my best to contribute to winning in all facets. I'm looking to move the needle in all facets of my game each day. I'm not the same player week to week, month to month, and hopefully definitely not year to year."
White Sox fans were deprived of the Montgomery and Montgomery starting combo Tuesday, as shortstop Colson Montgomery was out of the lineup with lower body tightness. Braden had a strong support system in attendance as he became the 12th White Sox prospect to make his debut during the 2026 season.
“I kind of left that up to my parents to coordinate all that and see who all is going to fill up,” Montgomery said pregame. “Lot of family and a lot of family friends. Lots of close friends who are going to be here. So I'm excited to embrace everybody and see everybody out there.
“There are people that have jobs that are about deciding things for what and who goes where, and that's not really my area of focus. I play ball. I love playing ball and I enjoy getting better at it. Whenever people at the top say it's time to do something, then it's time to go."