Colson Montgomery’s Path to the Majors Delayed, But for Good Reason

Colson Montgomery entered camp intending to be the White Sox Opening Day shortstop. However, on Tuesday the team announced that Montgomery had been optioned to Triple-A Charlotte. 

While Montgomery is one of the team's highly-touted prospects, the decision to leave him off the Opening Day roster was the correct one. The team’s fourth ranked prospect has struggled offensively and been dealing with a nagging back issue. 

Chris Getz Explains the Decision

White Sox general manager Chris Getz recently explained his decision to reporters, saying that he believes in minor league camp Montgomery can get more consistent reps.

"We want the front end of the year to be one that [he] goes out there and [is] just really productive. Lock in what he's working on. He had a hiccup in camp with health that made spring training maybe a little less smooth as he would have liked. However, he's working really hard," Getz said. "I was really impressed with his defense. He was great with the routine play.

Getz added that Montgomery handled the decision "like a pro" and that he is very mature for his age.

Montgomery’s Offensive

Outside of his recent performance in the Arizona Fall League, Montgomery has struggled to find consistency at the plate. In nine at-bats this Spring Montgomery hit just .111 with a home run and a pair of RBIs. This is on par with the .214/.329/.381 slash line he posted in Triple-A Charlotte last season. While the 23-year-old hit 18 homers, he also struck out 164 times. 

Defensively Montgomery also has a ways to go. While the former high-school basketball standout has plenty of athleticism and range for the shortstop position, however, some scouts believe he is better suited for third base, where he spent the bulk of his time during his AFL stint in October. Last season he made 19 errors at shortstop for the Charlotte Knights. 

Because of this, the White Sox were wise not to rush him to the big leagues. Lenyn Sosa, who is out of minor league options, had a solid showing at shortstop in the Venezuelan Winter League. In 113 plate appearances, the 25-year-old slashed .392/.451/.765 with nine homers and 26 runs batted in. That success has carried over into Cactus League action this Spring where Sosa has batted .421 in his first 19 at-bats. 

Short-Term Options at Shortstop

Jacob Amaya, despite his offensive struggles, has proven to be a reliable defender and could be a contender for the Opening Day spot. While neither Amaya nor Sosa appears to be a long-term piece in the White Sox’s plans, they serve as solid placeholders until the organization determines that Montgomery is ready. 

Montgomery’s back issues are also a concern. On February 27th he was scratched from the lineup as a precaution due to back spasms. CHSN's Chuck Garfein reports that Montgomery had zero concerns about the injury. However, he added that he felt something during one of his swings in practice and wanted to err on the side of caution. While he remains unconcerned, it's worth noting that a previous back injury was cited by The Athletic’s Keith Law as a factor in his regression in the minor leagues.