Colson Montgomery Demoted: White Sox Top Prospect Gets Hitting Reset in Arizona

As the Chicago White Sox limp into a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers, another shakeup signals just how urgent things have become within the organization. Former first-round pick and top shortstop prospect Colson Montgomery is being pulled from Triple-A competition — not for a call-up, but for a much-needed reset.

After a brutal start to his 2025 season with the Charlotte Knights, Montgomery is being reassigned to the team’s Arizona complex, where he’ll undergo one-on-one swing work with White Sox director of hitting, Ryan Fuller. The move isn’t just a tweak — it’s a wake-up call.

A Disappointing Start for a Key Piece of the Rebuild

Montgomery, 23, was once considered the future at shortstop on the South Side. But so far this season, that future feels uncertain. In 23 games with Charlotte, he’s slashing an alarming .149/.223/.255, good for a .478 OPS. His spring struggles already cost him a shot at the starting job in Chicago. Now, he’s trending in the wrong direction at the highest level of the minors.

This isn’t an isolated slump, either. In five minor league seasons, Montgomery has hit just .245. While his glove has shown promise, his bat — once projected to be his carrying tool — simply hasn’t caught up.

A Reset in Arizona: Time to Rebuild

According to MLB.com’s Scott Merkin, Montgomery is heading to Arizona for a one-to-two week stint of individualized hitting instruction. The sessions, led by Fuller, will take place away from the daily grind of Triple-A games — a clear signal the organization is prioritizing development over results.

“Colson will be getting some one-on-one work, away from daily games, with Ryan Fuller,” Merkin reported. “The plan is to give him one or two weeks of focused instruction.”

This kind of midseason recalibration isn’t uncommon for top prospects, but the stakes are higher when your farm system is thin and your major league club is floundering.

A Position Without a Plan B

Perhaps most concerning for Chicago is the lack of depth behind Montgomery. The next shortstop in line is Caleb Bonemer, a second-round pick from 2024, who is still years away from being MLB-ready. That means Montgomery’s development is not just a personal matter — it’s pivotal to the franchise’s near-term planning.

Is There Still Time?

The White Sox are desperate for answers, both on the field and in their farm system. Montgomery’s regression is a gut punch for a team that can’t afford many more. But this move — pulling him out of competition and giving him undivided coaching attention — is a sign they’re not giving up on him just yet.

Montgomery has the raw tools. He has the pedigree. What he doesn’t have, right now, is time to waste.

If he can take advantage of this focused development window, there’s still a path back to relevance — both for him and the White Sox.