Colson Montgomery reminded everyone on Friday that even in a rough season, one swing can still flip a game.
The White Sox shortstop launched a three-run homer in the first inning, and that early jolt helped Chicago beat the Twins 7-4 at Target Field. It was the kind of statement swing that has shown up before from Montgomery, even as the rest of his year has been a grind.
His numbers tell the story of the frustration. Montgomery’s OPS is 125 points lower than it was during his rookie season, and for most of this year it has sat below league average.
The strikeouts have climbed, the walks have gone the other way, and his batting average was still under .200 three weeks into the season. Since then, his best mark has been .239, reached on April 24.
Still, the power is very much intact. Friday’s homer was his 28th of the season, after he broke out as a rookie with an .840 OPS and 21 home runs in just 283 plate appearances.
He also struck out twice in the win, even after adding a single to his first-inning damage. He now has five four-strikeout games this season, compared to none last year, and he has fewer two-walk games this year than he did a season ago, three to two.
The White Sox wasted no time setting the tone. Dean Kremer retired the first two Chicago hitters, then Miguel Vargas singled.
A wild pitch moved Vargas to second, and Andrew Benintendi followed with a base hit to bring him home. Braden Montgomery then singled, and Colson Montgomery stepped in and sent a 1-2 splitter from Kremer into the right-field seats, turning a 1-0 start into a 4-0 lead before the Twins had come to bat.
Minnesota answered quickly. Brooks Lee and Kody Clemens each homered in the first inning, helping the Twins tie the game.
But Chicago kept coming back, scoring once in the third and again in the fourth to reclaim a two-run edge. The White Sox added another run in the eighth, and their final two scores came with help from Twins mistakes, one on a passed ball and another on a wild pitch.
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For a fan base watching every layer of the rebuild, the number is less a verdict than a snapshot. The White Sox still have prospects drawing attention for their performances and long-term upside, and their affiliates are supplying fresh game action that can alter the picture quickly. The challenge now is the same one it has been for a while: turning encouraging individual seasons into enough depth and impact to push that farm ranking higher before the standings in Chicago start to matter again. [Read more 🡒]
Caleb Bonemer Is Giving The White Sox A New Reason For Hope
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For the White Sox, the appeal is obvious. If Bonemer can handle a premium defensive spot, he becomes even more useful as a future option, much like Sam Antonacci earlier this season when added flexibility helped shape his path forward. The move does not guarantee anything on its own, but it does show the club is thinking about ways to make Bonemers rise smoother, faster and more valuable when the time comes. [Read more 🡒]