In spring training, White Sox outfield prospect Braden Montgomery already had baseball immortality in his sights.
‘‘My overall goal is to make the Hall of Fame,’’ Montgomery told the Sun-Times on March 1. ‘‘I’ll take it a game at a time, and we’ll see what happens at the end of it.’’
The first game was Tuesday, when the Sox called up their No. 2 prospect, according to MLB.com, from Triple-A Charlotte before the opener of their three-game series against the Braves at Rate Field. He started in right field and batted sixth, collecting his first major-league hit with a line-drive RBI single in the fourth inning.
“He’s here to play,” manager Will Venable said. “We’re not going to call him up here and sit him on the bench. He’s a guy that we’re excited to have in the lineup on a daily basis and see him in the outfield. He projects as an above-average right fielder.”
Montgomery, 23, became the 12th Sox player to make his major-league debut this season. His call-up was among several moves. The Sox also recalled left-hander Joe Rock from Charlotte, optioned outfielder Rikuu Nishida and right-hander David Sandlin to Charlotte and moved outfielder Austin Hays to the 60-day injured list.
Montgomery wasn’t trying to be cocky when he spoke in March, but his confidence is evident — and why not? The Sox promoted him to Triple-A on May 3 after he had a 1.035 OPS in 27 games at Double-A Birmingham. In 29 games with Charlotte, his OPS was .912.
Overall in the minors this season, Montgomery slashed .314/.422/.548 with 13 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs, 41 RBI, 52 runs scored and 39 walks in 56 games. Venable said he doesn’t plan to platoon the switch hitter.
“I think it’s fair to say that he’s been more productive over his career from the left side of the plate,” he said. “But he’s more than adequate on the right side, as well. So we view him as an every-day guy.”
Montgomery spoke with a smile throughout his first meeting with reporters as a major-leaguer. Though he exuded calm, he was in awe of his surroundings.
“It’s been a lot to take in,” Montgomery said. “I don’t know if I’ve fully digested it yet. But it’s clearly a lot different than Triple-A ballparks and Triple-A everything.”
General manager Chris Getz said the time was right to promote Montgomery, despite the gauntlet of a schedule facing the Sox, including a homestand with the Braves and Dodgers, both National League division leaders.
“The biggest focus all along was really getting Braden to a place where we felt most comfortable about bringing him to the big leagues,” Getz said. “It happens to be at this part of the schedule. We’re trying to balance what’s best for a player developmentally along with being as competitive as we can be at the major-league level. He was playing really well the last two weeks.”
Montgomery is the fourth (and final) player the Sox acquired in the Garrett Crochet trade with the Red Sox to make the majors. Mongtomery, whom the Red Sox drafted 12th overall in 2024 out of Texas A&M, came to the White Sox with second baseman Chase Meidroth, catcher Kyle Teel (injured list) and right-handed reliever Wikelman González (Triple-A injured list).
Montgomery already has played with many of his new major-league teammates.
“It’s been really cool seeing peers, guys I played with in spring training, guys I played with in Charlotte and Birmingham,” he said. “It’s reassuring that I’ve already shared the field with those guys before. It doesn’t feel as far-fetched when you see your teammates doing that stuff.”
Those teammates might have to be a little neater in the dugout. Montgomery is known for helping clean up the mess players leave.
“That started as a senior in high school,” he said. “We already have so many people that provide for us, that serve us in so many different ways, something that’s as simple as throwing your trash away is something that should be upheld by the guys. It’s our trash.”