What to expect from White Sox No. 2 prospect Montgomery in the big leagues

Braden Montgomery earning a promotion to the big leagues in mid-2026 is no surprise.

The White Sox calling him up to bolster their postseason chances while holding a two-game lead on a Wild Card berth two months into the season? Now that's a shocker.

But that's exactly what happened on Tuesday when Chicago, two years removed from a record 121-loss season, added Montgomery to its lineup. He fits the classic right-field profile, and it's no coincidence that right field has been one of the weakest spots in the lineup for the 34-31 White Sox, who most recently have platooned Derek Hill and Rikuu Nishida there. Montgomery will make his debut tonight, playing in right and batting sixth against the Braves at Rate Field.

Ranked No. 21 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list, he joined Chicago in the blockbuster Garrett Crochet trade at the 2024 Winter Meetings. Once Kyle Teel returns from hamstring and knee injuries later this year, one-third of the White Sox lineup will consist of prospects acquired in that deal: Montgomery, Teel and Chase Meidroth.

Part of a loaded 2024 college Draft class, Montgomery drew interest in the top five overall picks but ultimately lasted until No. 12 after breaking his right ankle on a bad slide during the NCAA super regionals. That still made him the highest-drafted position player in Texas A&M history, and he signed with Boston for $5 million.

Montgomery has risen from Single-A to Chicago in 16 months, batting .284/.381/.477 with 22 homers and 19 steals in 177 games at four levels of the Minors. He has slashed .314/.422/.548 between Double-A and Triple-A this year and went 18-for-35 (.514) with 10 walks during a 10-game hitting streak prior to his promotion.

The 23-year-old Montgomery has undergone an interesting evolution as a prospect. As a Mississippi high schooler, he rated as one of the best two-way talents in the 2021 Draft and teams were split on whether he had a brighter future as a hitter or a pitcher. After he hit 35 homers while battling the strike zone in two years at Stanford before transferring, it became clear that he was better as an outfielder.

Known more for his hitting ability than power as a prepster, Montgomery reversed that profile while slamming 62 homers in three college seasons. He also changed the perception of him as a switch-hitter. He struggled enough hitting right-handed in college that some scouts wondered if he'd be better off becoming a full-time lefty hitter, but he has done damage from both sides of the plate as a pro.

Montgomery's signature tool is his plus-plus raw power, which he generates with premium bat speed. He hits balls harder than most players, posting average (93.2 mph) and maximum (113.9 mph) exit velocities in Triple-A that are similar to Kyle Schwarber's in the Majors this year. He tends to make a lot of groundball contact that diminishes his pop to some degree, but he still has the ingredients to produce 25-30 homers per season and perhaps more if he improves his quality of contact.

Montgomery has reasonable plate discipline but does come with some contact concerns after logging a 34 percent swing-and-miss rate against all pitches and a 21 percent whiff rate against strikes in Double-A and Triple-A. That said, his 25 percent strikeout rate in the Minors isn't excessive, and he projects as an average hitter who provides plenty of power while drawing his share of walks.

Mostly an average runner who's a bit quicker once he gets going, Montgomery isn't aggressive on the bases but will steal an occasional bag. Though he has spent more time in center field this spring, his quickness and instincts are better suited for right. Clocked up to 96 mph when he pitched in college, he still has a strong arm and has registered seven assists in 56 pro starts in right field.

Montgomery becomes the fifth Top 100 Prospect to join the White Sox in the last two seasons, following Edgar Quero (April 2025), Kyle Teel (June 2005), Colson Montgomery (July 2025) and Noah Schultz (April 2026). They're a huge part of a makeover that has transformed the club from to a contender much quicker than expected.