Updated

Updated · MLB Trade Rumors · Jun 9

White Sox Call Up No. 33 Prospect Braden Montgomery, Move Austin Hays to 60-Day IL

Updated

Updated · MLB Trade Rumors · Jun 9

White Sox Call Up No. 33 Prospect Braden Montgomery, Move Austin Hays to 60-Day IL

Q: Can one top prospect really ignite a 100-loss team's unexpected surge into the playoffs?

Not by himself. A top prospect can sharpen a contender’s edge or accelerate a rebuild, but a 100-loss team reaching the playoffs almost always requires a broader team-wide jump. Braden Montgomery gives the White Sox a real boost. He is one of baseball’s better prospects, has dominated Double-A and Triple-A with a .314/.422/.548 line and 152 wRC+, and fills a clear need in an unsettled outfield. His switch-hitting bat, power, patience and defense could make him an immediate everyday contributor. But Chicago’s 2026 rise was already underway before his call-up. The White Sox are 34-31, 1.5 games out in the AL Central and in a Wild Card spot because several things changed at once: Colson Montgomery has produced in the middle of the order, Miguel Vargas has broken out, Munetaka Murakami supplied major power before his injury, and pitchers such as Davis Martin and Sean Burke have stabilized the staff. The club has also benefited from a weak American League and strong results within the division. That is the key distinction. One prospect can matter a lot, especially if he adds two or three wins over the rest of the season and deepens a young lineup. But turning a 100-loss team into a playoff team usually comes from multiple breakouts, healthier roster depth, better pitching, and favorable context. So Montgomery can help ignite the next phase of Chicago’s push. He is unlikely to be the sole reason for it.

3 articles · Updated · MLB Trade Rumors · Jun 9

Chicago selected 23-year-old outfielder Braden Montgomery’s contract after he hit .314/.422/.548 with 10 homers in 56 games across Double-A and Triple-A.
Austin Hays shifted from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list to clear a 40-man roster spot, while the White Sox also recalled lefty Joe Rock and optioned Rikuu Nishida and David Sandlin.
Montgomery, the No. 12 pick in 2024 and a key return in the Garrett Crochet trade, ranks 33rd on Baseball America’s top-100 list and has surged lately with a .474/.580/.711 line over his past 10 games.
Chicago’s unsettled outfield should give him regular at-bats in center or right as the club keeps adding young hitters to a rebuilding core that already includes Sam Antonacci, Jacob Gonzalez and Colson Montgomery.