The Chicago White Sox known as up 24-year-old outfielder Braden Montgomery this week, and the Texas A&M product was within the beginning lineup Tuesday night time for his MLB debut towards the Atlanta Braves, the perfect staff in baseball.
He made it an evening to recollect.
Montgomery got here to the plate with a runner on, with Chicago trailing 5-4 within the backside of the tenth inning. Going through Atlanta nearer Raisel Iglesias, Montgomery lifted a changeup to the alternative area, depositing it within the left area bleachers for a walk-off dwelling run:
“That was surreal,” Montgomery stated to the media. “I couldn’t hear something. I used to be advised the gang was fairly loud.”
Montgomery, who was drafted No. 12 general by the Boston Pink Sox within the 2024 MLB Draft, notched a pair of hits in his first recreation, as he laced a single within the backside of the fourth, bringing dwelling a run for his first MLB RBI.
The outfielder was one in every of 4 prospects traded from the Pink Sox to the White Sox in 2024, in a deal for pitcher Garrett Crochet. His debut Tuesday night time meant all 4 of these prospects — catcher Kyle Teel, infielder Chase Meidroth, and pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez — have reached the large leagues with Chicago.
Crochet is at present 3-3 with a 6.30 ERA for Boston.
He additionally joined a quite small listing with the walk-off dwelling run, as he grew to become simply the fifth participant in MLB historical past to hit a walk-off dwelling run of their debut since 1900. The different gamers on that listing? Carlos Perez (2015), Miguel Cabrera (2003), Josh Bard (2002), and Billy Parker (1971).
Montgomery’s debut suits with what has been a theme for the White Sox this season: A youth motion. The outfielder is the twelfth participant to make their MLB debut with the staff this season, a listing that features LHP Noah Schultz and 1B Munetaka Murakami, who arrived from the skilled ranks in Japan. Whereas Murakami is at present coping with a hamstring harm, he has already belted 20 dwelling runs for the White Sox this season.
Regardless of — or due to — that youth motion the White Sox are at present 35-31 after the win over the Braves, placing Chicago squarely within the playoff hunt. As of Wednesday morning the White Sox are only a half-game behind the Cleveland Guardians within the AL Central, and three video games up within the race for the second Wild Card spot.
However Tuesday night time was all about Montgomery, who lived a “dream” in his debut.
“It was one thing out of goals,” Montgomery stated after the sport. “It’s one thing that I couldn’t draw up any higher myself. … This entire day I’ve been attempting to get grounded, perceive what the brand new regular is like for baseball on this stage.”
