The White Sox have selected the contracts of shortstop Colson Montgomery and right-hander Juan Carela, per the team transaction log at MLB.com. Both are now on the 40-man roster and ineligible to be taken in next month’s Rule 5 Draft.
Montgomery, 22, was the Sox’ top pick in the 2021 draft, coming off the board with the No. 22 overall pick. He’s been the system’s top prospect since and currently factors prominently into top-100 lists at multiple publications (e.g. No. 38 at Baseball America, No. 37 at MLB.com). He ripped through High-A and Double-A as a 21-year-old in 2023 before struggling for much of the season as a 22-year-old in Triple-A this year. Montgomery did finish the season nicely, slashing .263/.357/.465 in his final six weeks of action, but his overall .214/.329/.381 slash obviously leaves plenty to be desired.
Even with those struggles, however, there’s no way the Sox were going to leave a prospect of Montgomery’s caliber unprotected. He breezed through the low minors and was four years younger than his average opponent in Triple-A. Montgomery hit .313/.511/.656 in 45 plate appearances during the Arizona Fall League as well, further adding to that nice finish. Scouting reports aren’t sold on him as a long-term shortstop, due primarily to his 6’3″, 225-pound frame, but Montgomery is thought to have the arm and defensive chops to handle third base even if a position switch is necessary down the road.
Carela, 22, came to the ChiSox from the Yankees in the 2023 trade that sent Keynan Middleton to the Bronx. He split the 2024 campaign between High-A and Double-A, logging sub-4.00 ERAs at each stop. Collectively, it played out as a 3.71 earned run average, a strong 25.2% strikeout rate and a 9.9% walk rate he’ll work to pare down in the future. Carela totaled 106 2/3 innings, all as a starter. He’ll likely head back to Double-A to begin the 2025 season, as he only tossed 32 2/3 innings there. Given his placement on the 40-man roster and the likelihood that he’ll split 2025 between Double-A and Triple-A, he’ll be a candidate to make his big league debut later in the 2025 campaign if he continues to pitch well.
Colson is raking in AZ Fall League. Lookin’ good.
Too big for shortstop like Ripken and Correa.
Montgomery isn’t being developed well enough to be a plus defender at crucial SS position. They better have some wonderful philosophical changes and instruction personnel to get its position players to succeed at the highest level.
cwsOverhaul: I just hope he doesn’t turn into another Oscar Colas.
Colton starts opening day. What do we have to lose.
The other guy, never heard of. But nice stats.
Now, sign a ML right fielder and second baseman.
62-100 would be a 30 game improvement
Cruz 6’7
Seager 6’4
Correa 6’4
It’s not the height
Slider: Maybe it’s because he weighs as much as a C. Or a small Lance Lynn.
Or the three time all star Jhonny Peralta.
Should’ve protected McGough instead of Carela.
Shhh, maybe noone will notice
I’m shocked they didn’t protect Veras!
Decent power, but huge K rate. I think they could draft a guy who’s better
I also wonder if they are taking a calculated risk that he wouldn’t be drafted and expected to stay on a major league roster for next year.
Having said that, there are plenty of players who could have been designated to make room, so I’m a bit surprised too.
Here was my protection order; #1 Montgomery, #2 Veras, #3 McGough, #4 Carela.
Veras swings at everything and is easily fooled in the low minors. Poor defense, too. No one will be selecting Veras.