White Sox to call up switch-hitting outfield prospect Braden Montgomery

The Chicago White Sox are set to promote outfield prospect Braden Montgomery to the majors, according to a report first attributed to Matt Snyder of CBS Sports and later carried by MLB Trade Rumors. The move, if finalized, would place the switch-hitting bat onto the White Sox’s daily major-league roster and mark a major step in Montgomery’s development path.

Roster mechanics will be the first storyline to watch. MLB Trade Rumors reported that Chicago will need to open room on both the 26-man roster for game-day eligibility and the 40-man roster for season-long control. That means a corresponding move should be announced soon, since promotions in this window typically trigger a corresponding transfer or option decision for another player.

Montgomery’s standing as an organizational prospect is part of what makes the timing notable. MLB Trade Rumors wrote that he currently ranks 33rd on Baseball America’s top-100 prospect list. Other prospect coverage indicates Montgomery is viewed even more highly within White Sox ranks, underscoring why Chicago is comfortable using a roster spot now rather than waiting for a later evaluation checkpoint.

The path to this promotion also includes a fast rise through the minors. Sox On 35th, citing background that Montgomery was drafted by Boston and later acquired by the White Sox as part of the Garrett Crochet trade, described him as a right-field type with plus power potential. That same report also said the White Sox have split his defensive reps between right and center field, leaving the ultimate long-term defensive home a key question as he makes the jump to the majors.

On the field this season, Montgomery’s power has been a central reason for the promotion. Sox On 35th reported that, split across Double-A and Triple-A, he slashed.314/.422/.548 with 10 home runs, while also improving or maintaining plate discipline metrics, including a walk-rate increase compared with his prior year. A separate entry highlighted a recent Charlotte homer total, pointing to consistent extra-base production at the Triple-A level.

Beyond the numbers, the White Sox’s broader roster strategy is likely part of the calculus. Montgomery’s profile fits a common rebuilding theme in modern roster construction: add controllable, impact-oriented talent while continuing to experiment with outfield defense and lineup balance at the major-league level. For Chicago, this is not just a reward for minor-league production, it is also a chance to see how quickly a top prospect can translate his approach against higher-leverage pitching.

The immediate question is how the White Sox will use Montgomery once he arrives. Because the promotion requires roster movement, his debut role could depend on who gets displaced and what the team needs most on any given day, whether that is bench depth, starting outfield reps, or late-inning matchups as his game plan adjusts.

For fans, the next meaningful checkpoint is how Montgomery performs against major-league pitching in the first few weeks after his call-up. Early exposure can quickly clarify whether his power is coming with enough strike-throwing and pitch recognition to justify more regular at-bats, or whether Chicago will need to manage his workload to maintain development momentum.