Colson Montgomery to AZ Complex

[WhiteSox2023]

25 minutes ago, Dick Allen said:

What about Amaya? He's raking.

The entire Charlotte lineup is raking.  Just goes to show what those stats mean.

[chw42]

11 minutes ago, Dick Allen said:

He's hitting over .400 in Charlotte. Time to call him up. I'm  kidding, just cautioning a couple of good games doesn't mean someone is fixed. 

.400 OPS? That's a big improvement for him.

[Bob Sacamano]

15 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

The entire Charlotte lineup is raking.  Just goes to show what those stats mean.

Some of those guys I'd still rather see over some of the guys at the MLB level though. In the next month, we should see some space open up.

I only suggested calling up Colson (as I did like a week before this hot streak) as an opportunity to show him some faith and a chance to reset his stats. At the time, I said that it's probably discouraging stepping into the batter's box seeing your AVG start with a 1 and then getting inside your head.

[WhiteSox2023]

15 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Some of those guys I'd still rather see over some of the guys at the MLB level though. In the next month, we should see some space open up.

I only suggested calling up Colson (as I did like a week before this hot streak) as an opportunity to show him some faith and a chance to reset his stats. At the time, I said that it's probably discouraging stepping into the batter's box seeing your AVG start with a 1 and then getting inside your head.

Agreed.  No reason for Capra or Rojas to be on the roster.  Probably not Noda either, other than the need for another 1B.  Baldwin should definitely be up but I can see the rationale in holding Colson down since he has probably finally regained some confidence and the team not wanting to mess with that by throwing him at much more challenging MLB pitching immediately.

[WestEddy]

39 minutes ago, Dick Allen said:

He's hitting over .400 in Charlotte. Time to call him up. I'm  kidding, just cautioning a couple of good games doesn't mean someone is fixed. 

Sure. I'm fine with leaving Baldwin down until after the TDL when the roster opens up and he can get regular time. I'm also fine with Colson coming up sometime after Sept. 1 to preserve his rookie status, and just let him air it out for a month or so, just to make sure he sets some habits and doesn't fall back at the first MLB pitching adjustment to his weaknesses. 

1 hour ago, Buehrle>Wood said:

Baldwin's best value will be to play 6 positions, even if poorly, and spell anyone as needed. Should be plenty of ABs.

Yeah, I don't think the White Sox "owe" it to a player to put them in a position to rack up killer WAR. I believe Baldwin will settle in and start to hit, and if he jumps around the diamond, his defense will suffer for it. 

 

51 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Corey Julks is also deserving of a call up and probably will be once they move a couple OFs.

How deep would they have to go? I assume Robert's gone for anything. If they're kicking in money, Benintendi's gone, too. Tauchman's most likely gone, so that's Baldwin, Julks/Baker and Fletcher/DeLoach. I guess if there's interest, M.A.T. and/or Slater goes, too, and a 4th and 5th OF from that group comes up?

I just don't know how much veteran depth they want to clear out. I would think they want a couple 30-year-olds to set an example. Maybe they feel like Vargas, Lee and Sosa provide most of that already?

[WestEddy]

45 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

The entire Charlotte lineup is raking.  Just goes to show what those stats mean.

But the stats do mean something. The park doesn't make a hitter barrel more balls, or have a better contact percentage in or out of the zone. Maybe there's some data that shows pitchers adjusting negatively to the dimensions, but I don't know about that. 

[southsider2k5]

38 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Some of those guys I'd still rather see over some of the guys at the MLB level though. In the next month, we should see some space open up.

I only suggested calling up Colson (as I did like a week before this hot streak) as an opportunity to show him some faith and a chance to reset his stats. At the time, I said that it's probably discouraging stepping into the batter's box seeing your AVG start with a 1 and then getting inside your head.

Here's the thing.  TODAY I would much rather give Baldwin a shot over Colson, simply because of how up and down Montgomery has been.  Baldwin feels like he has nothing else left for AAA, while Montgomery still has some consistency and fielding issues for sure.  That could change, but I would absolutely suffer through a mistake ridden and learning Baldwin over Capra, for sure.

[almagest]

I'm on the same page. Let Colson sustain some success in AAA until after the ASB or trade deadline at least. Bring him up once you're confident he's injury-free and producing in a way that he can sustain in MLB.

I don't know why Baldwin isn't up yet, especially over Capra. All I can think of is they think Baldwin is in the Elko camp of AAAA players, but even that's better than Capra.

[Buehrle>Wood]

30 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Sure. I'm fine with leaving Baldwin down until after the TDL when the roster opens up and he can get regular time. I'm also fine with Colson coming up sometime after Sept. 1 to preserve his rookie status, and just let him air it out for a month or so, just to make sure he sets some habits and doesn't fall back at the first MLB pitching adjustment to his weaknesses. 

Yeah, I don't think the White Sox "owe" it to a player to put them in a position to rack up killer WAR. I believe Baldwin will settle in and start to hit, and if he jumps around the diamond, his defense will suffer for it. 

 

How deep would they have to go? I assume Robert's gone for anything. If they're kicking in money, Benintendi's gone, too. Tauchman's most likely gone, so that's Baldwin, Julks/Baker and Fletcher/DeLoach. I guess if there's interest, M.A.T. and/or Slater goes, too, and a 4th and 5th OF from that group comes up?

I just don't know how much veteran depth they want to clear out. I would think they want a couple 30-year-olds to set an example. Maybe they feel like Vargas, Lee and Sosa provide most of that already?

Well his defense isn't racking up killer war if its poor. I was talking about value to the team. If he can fill 6 positions, thats his best bet on a roster.

[GreenSox]

20 hours ago, Buehrle>Wood said:

Capra. The answer is Capra.

Rojas.

Capra can play SS.

[WestEddy]

31 minutes ago, almagest said:

I'm on the same page. Let Colson sustain some success in AAA until after the ASB or trade deadline at least. Bring him up once you're confident he's injury-free and producing in a way that he can sustain in MLB.

I don't know why Baldwin isn't up yet, especially over Capra. All I can think of is they think Baldwin is in the Elko camp of AAAA players, but even that's better than Capra.

Capra plays very good shortstop. He can sub in for an inning and be a substantial upgrade in defense. Baldwin can't. Ideally, that guy (Capra/Amaya) could hit a little. I don't think the team sees Baldwin as AAAA filler, more that he needs a better approach, the lack of which was probably exposed in a couple ABs where he was flailing. 

[WestEddy]

33 minutes ago, Buehrle>Wood said:

Well his defense isn't racking up killer war if its poor. I was talking about value to the team. If he can fill 6 positions, thats his best bet on a roster.

Oh, I agree. His value is in not having a drop-off in offensive production while playing better-than-Vaughn OF and IF. I guess as I read, other comments hit me, and I kind of respond to all of it at the same time. Some had complained that he'll never get better on a position unless he focuses on that position. I think that ship has sailed as far as how the White Sox want to use him during his control years. 

[almagest]

15 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Capra plays very good shortstop. He can sub in for an inning and be a substantial upgrade in defense. Baldwin can't. Ideally, that guy (Capra/Amaya) could hit a little. I don't think the team sees Baldwin as AAAA filler, more that he needs a better approach, the lack of which was probably exposed in a couple ABs where he was flailing. 

Maybe. I'd trade defense for offense on this roster for sure. I also don't know how Baldwin is going to learn what he needs to do in MLB by bashing AAA pitching.

[Lip Man 1]

From the Sun-Times today, they also talk about Schultz and Braden Montgomery:

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2025/06/30/white-sox-prospects-noah-schultz-braden-montgomery-futures-game-colson-montgomery

How close is Colson?

Could shortstop Colson Montgomery, a step away from the majors at Triple-A, be the next prospect to make his way to the South Side?

It’s been a roller-coaster season for the 2021 first-rounder, who started miserably, prompting the Sox to send him to Arizona to work with hitting director Ryan Fuller. He returned with a successful stretch, then slumped again before his current hot streak: 11 hits, including four homers, in his last 22 at-bats.

That’s a 1.749 OPS over his last five games.

Looking at his numbers can give you whiplash, but might this latest rebound be enough to make the Sox consider a promotion to the big leagues?

“One of the things you start to look to is the consistency and being able to pull himself out of a funk, which he really didn’t show us last year. He’s done that a couple times this year now, which is super encouraging,” Janish said. “You do want to strike while the iron’s hot with a guy like that. … Giving them the opportunity to go up when they’re playing well is definitely preferred.

“He’s in a really good place and doing what he needs to do and putting himself in a conversation, for sure.”

Who knows if that means another noteworthy major league debut is imminent?

But it’s a sign that a huge rebuilding milestone could be getting closer.

[The Mighty Mite]

2 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Agreed.  No reason for Capra or Rojas to be on the roster.  Probably not Noda either, other than the need for another 1B.  Baldwin should definitely be up but I can see the rationale in holding Colson down since he has probably finally regained some confidence and the team not wanting to mess with that by throwing him at much more challenging MLB pitching immediately.

Rojas probably should stay as a utility infielder, who else is there.

[chitownsportsfan]

8 minutes ago, The Mighty Mite said:

Rojas probably should stay as a utility infielder, who else is there.

He can't play a passable SS so he's useless. If Colson comes up and Baldwin you have three guys that can all play it better.

[WhiteSox2023]

28 minutes ago, The Mighty Mite said:

Rojas probably should stay as a utility infielder, who else is there.

Baldwin is supposed to be able to play everywhere, but I guess he isn’t very strong defensively at any one position.  But at this point, I’d sacrifice defense for offense.  Rojas is brutal with the bat.

[Timmy U]

If Colson comes up soon, I would dump Noda, who does not look good. Capra gives you a righty to keep Colson from facing the Chris Sales and Garrett Crochets of the world. Rojas gives you steady D and veteran leadership. Now, if you wanna keep both Colson and Baldwin when Robert comes back, I can see either Capra or Rojas going. But that may be very short term. Maybe they’ll wait until after the deadline to do anything interesting.

[kitekrazy]

7 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said:

From the Sun-Times today, they also talk about Schultz and Braden Montgomery:

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2025/06/30/white-sox-prospects-noah-schultz-braden-montgomery-futures-game-colson-montgomery

How close is Colson?

Could shortstop Colson Montgomery, a step away from the majors at Triple-A, be the next prospect to make his way to the South Side?

It’s been a roller-coaster season for the 2021 first-rounder, who started miserably, prompting the Sox to send him to Arizona to work with hitting director Ryan Fuller. He returned with a successful stretch, then slumped again before his current hot streak: 11 hits, including four homers, in his last 22 at-bats.

That’s a 1.749 OPS over his last five games.

Looking at his numbers can give you whiplash, but might this latest rebound be enough to make the Sox consider a promotion to the big leagues?

“One of the things you start to look to is the consistency and being able to pull himself out of a funk, which he really didn’t show us last year. He’s done that a couple times this year now, which is super encouraging,” Janish said. “You do want to strike while the iron’s hot with a guy like that. … Giving them the opportunity to go up when they’re playing well is definitely preferred.

“He’s in a really good place and doing what he needs to do and putting himself in a conversation, for sure.”

Who knows if that means another noteworthy major league debut is imminent?

But it’s a sign that a huge rebuilding milestone could be getting closer.

That article was all about clicks. It borders on fake news.

[kitekrazy]

6 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Baldwin is supposed to be able to play everywhere, but I guess he isn’t very strong defensively at any one position.  But at this point, I’d sacrifice defense for offense.  Rojas is brutal with the bat.

So few players are good at that.

[Boopa1219]

Something that gets left out when discussing Colson is the fact that he was drafted as a 19 year old HS grad. His development/minor league career is a perfect example of that demographic’s risk.

A 19 year old can’t have too many setbacks because suddenly they’ll be 23, 24, 25 and still not on stable ground as a prospect 

[oldsox]

47 minutes ago, Boopa1219 said:

Something that gets left out when discussing Colson is the fact that he was drafted as a 19 year old HS grad. His development/minor league career is a perfect example of that demographic’s risk.

A 19 year old can’t have too many setbacks because suddenly they’ll be 23, 24, 25 and still not on stable ground as a prospect 

C'mon man. He was given every chance to develop. In addition to stops at every minor league team, he was given two, count em two, shots at the Arizona Summer League.

[TheBooneLoganEra]

15 hours ago, Timmy U said:

If Colson comes up soon, I would dump Noda, who does not look good. 

I would dump Noda regardless, and just pull a fan out of the stands to play in his place. Would get the same results. 

[southsider2k5]

2 hours ago, oldsox said:

C'mon man. He was given every chance to develop. In addition to stops at every minor league team, he was given two, count em two, shots at the Arizona Summer League.

 Not to mention even the personalized camp just for him.

[CBJ03]

5 hours ago, oldsox said:

C'mon man. He was given every chance to develop. In addition to stops at every minor league team, he was given two, count em two, shots at the Arizona Summer League.

I actually think he was rushed in a lot of ways. '21 he played in 26 games in AZ. '22 he played in 96 games reaching AA for 14 games. '23 he played 64 games with only 37 games at AA. Last year was the most games he played at 130 all in AAA. To me, as a HS drafted player to only play 51 games at AA over 2 seasons seems like some development was skipped at those levels. Also, not all development is linear. Even this year, he has the horrid start, goes to AZ comes back and looks better. He then proceeds to get hit with a fastball on the knee cap and then a few days later gets hit in the hand. I know no one else really pointed anything out, so maybe it was just me, but it looked like his hand was still bothering him some up until recently. I thought I noticed him many times shaking has hand off after foul balls as if he was still in some discomfort.