'Free' Playe Free 'made it possible for the White Sox -Infield Colson Montgomery to impress defensively

Pittsburgh – The White Sox -Infield Colson Montgomery quickly started to the team's clubhouse.

Before the games, he often chats with his co -fur colleagues (Chase Medroth, Sean Burke and Kyle Tea) or talks to the veterans. In May there were serious concerns whether he would ever get a call from the majors in his first 23 games at Triple-A Charlotte after he.

“He did a really good job to slow down the game,” said Deputy General Manager Josh Barfield on Saturday. “Some people, when they come into the big leagues, they just have the feeling that they belong here.”

Montgomery still has a long way to prove that he is an everyday player with a big league, but he looks the role of what is reminiscent of Jay-Z's song “Public Service”: “Look at my Swag, Yo, I go like a ball player.”

With his family tree and its sporting skills of 6-4, he certainly has the predisposition of a major Leaguer. Now it is up to him to prove it.

Montgomery was regularly tested at the 10: 1 victory on Friday and he was well. In a game, Montgomery returned to record the ball and threw a rocket on the first basis for the end of the inning. This game showed Montgomery's arm strength and field heavy. In another game, Montgomery had a quick reaction to a sharply hit line trip to him, which he caught with his long limbs.

“We speak of the defense that the defense is a constant coach of the third basis,” Justin Jirschele told the third basis compared to the Sun-Times. “He is playing with a high degree of self -confidence. He plays free.”

Montgomery, the 2021 pick of the SOX 2021, was partially designed because of the potential of his framework. But Montgomerys Plus sports properties rarely appeared in the minors – his mobility was limited in 2023 when he dealt with a back injury, which he acted from spring training until June 19 of this season.

In his first 12 games, Montgomery fell with his reliable defense in Shortstop and the third basis. Manager wants Venable to say that Montgomery's sportiness bangs in contrast to spring training in Shortstop and the third base.

Since Montgomery received the call, he has intended his preparation. He developed his routine to go to the weight room before the games to lift and stretch. After Montgomery has reached the weight room, he goes to the field to work with Jirschele on Infield drills.

Montgomery needs the repetitions because he only played four games in the third base in the minors. Before the game on Saturday, he had registered 24 innings in third and 69 in Shortstop.

“I know sometimes to play third place, you can think that you have to be more blocker and block the ball,” Montgomery told The Sun-Times. “But [Jirschele] Just tell me again and again: 'Do what I do with Shortstop in the third basis and stay sporty.' “

Jirschele carries out Montgomery through fungi, which emphasizes good footwork. During the entire drill, Montgomery does not know where the ball is to be hit, and Jirschele changes the speed and angles to give Montgomery different appearance and speed.

“I can't just go out and go through the movements,” said Montgomery. “I have to put my body into the right and competitive way of thinking, especially because the decisive defense is.”

Defensive versatility is a focus for the SOX: there are Venable more options, is more stable from year to year and can have a positive effect on pitching staff.

So far, Montgomery has illustrated the properties and behavior of the club by a player that they imagine as part of his core.

“The trust he plays with always seems to be in the right place at the right time,” said Jirschele. “He can be downhill and really play a few games that stand out from the long legs and the area. The intangible values there that he brings on the table are really emerging.”