Why Montgomery moved from SS to 3B in AFL

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CHICAGO -- The most recent Arizona Fall League stint for Colson Montgomery, the No. 3 White Sox prospect and No. 37 overall, per MLB Pipeline, included eight of his 11 games being played defensively at third base.

Those appearances marked the shortstop’s first third-base stints at the professional level.

“Yeah, in my life,” said a laughing Montgomery during a recent conversation with MLB.com.

But don’t read too much into that defensive switch, other than an Arizona Fall League necessity. Not for the White Sox, and especially not for Montgomery.

“I’m not a third baseman, let me say that,” Montgomery said. “Let me point that out and put that in bold. I’m not a third baseman. I’m a shortstop in my eyes.”

“He is a shortstop,” White Sox general manager Chris Getz said. “Listen, when a player gets experience at other positions, it’s generally a positive. The fact that he showed that he can play third base is not surprising at all. Obviously, the more reps you get at certain positions, generally speaking, you get more comfortable. But with that being said, we view him as a shortstop.”

Montgomery made only one start in Arizona at shortstop, where he has suited up for 316 games over four seasons in the Minor Leagues and back-to-back AFL campaigns. Part of the reason came from Montgomery being a late add to the Glendale Desert Dogs, who already had priority shortstops in place from other organizations.

Montgomery’s priority during this abbreviated stint was continuing the good feel he developed at the plate with a .263/.357/.465 slash line put together over his final 99 at-bats as part of his first full campaign with Triple-A Charlotte in 2024. But Montgomery is an exceptional athlete, and honestly can play anywhere if asked.

“We were a little bit flexible of me playing at third,” Montgomery said. “I’m not saying it’s easier. I would never say that. But I think it’s just kind of when you get back in a different spot, in a different position, it makes you focus a little more because you haven’t played it there.

“That’s one of the biggest things is just making me more ready. It’s the hot corner. Things get on you quicker. It's made me more focused, and you use a little bit more of your instincts. And with my whole track record of multiple sports and things like that, trusting my instincts is when I’m at my best.”

At 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, the left-handed-hitting Montgomery draws frequent comparisons to Corey Seager with a vaguely similar look at the plate. There also are pundits who believe Montgomery eventually could end up as a third baseman once he reaches the Major Leagues, an arrival which could come in this 2025 season.

An overriding goal for Montgomery is understandably playing anywhere that places him in the daily starting lineup. He managed this move down the infield without a hitch, making a diving play on his very first attempt.

Make no mistake, though, as to where Montgomery believes he will end up and where he belongs.

“They need me to play third, I’ll play third,” Montgomery said. “It’s whatever. It’s fine. But I’m a shortstop.”

Then again, this time at third should help Montgomery defensively upon his return to shortstop.

“Oh yeah, 100 percent,” Montgomery said. “You don’t really have much time to react to set your feet up before the ball gets to you. But it’s like once you get the ball, you have to move your feet toward first base to get a strong throw across. That’s really what I can take into playing at shortstop, just continuing to move my feet after I catch the ball.”

“Having players being able to play other positions can put you in a better position to win a ballgame,” Getz said. “It was about his offense out in the Fall League, getting at-bats at designated hitter. Playing shortstop and third, that stuff was all kind of secondary with the primary focus of him gaining confidence and feeling good about his 2024 season to build toward 2025.”