‘The talent speaks for itself ’
Evaluating 3 Sox prospects ahead of spring training
Justin Jirschele managed many of the top prospects in the White Sox farm system last season at Double-A Birmingham.
“The talent speaks for itself — on paper and on the field,” Jirschele, whom the Sox recently promoted to manage Triple-A Charlotte, said during a video conference Friday. “For me, there’s a ton of optimism and a ton of excitement with what’s coming.”
Some players, such as Oscar Colás, could be called up to the big leagues very soon. The outfielder is expected to compete for the opening in right field. Sean Burke is an option to provide pitching depth. And shortstop Colson Montgomery, the team’s firstround pick in 2021, continues to work his way through the minors.
All three will be at Sox spring training as non-roster invitees. Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 15, while the first full-squad workout is Feb. 20 at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.
Here is a closer look at the trio of prospects.
Colson Montgomery
From late April to mid-July, all Montgomery did was get on base.
The organization’s top prospect according to Baseball America put together a 50-game on-base streak with Class A Kannapolis and Class A Winston-Salem. He posted a .344/.448/.519 slash line during the stretch.
“As far as makeup and tools, the biggest thing that jumps out for me is how natural things come to him on both sides of the baseball, offensively and defensively,” Jirschele said. “He’s always comfortable in the sense of the game doesn’t speed up on him, physically or mentally.”
Montgomery, 20, slashed .274/.381/.429 with 17 doubles, 11 home runs and 47 RBIs in 96 games last season at Kannapolis (45 games), Winston-Salem (37 games) and Birmingham (14 games). He joined the Barons in late August, taking part in “Project Birmingham” as some of the organization’s top prospects spent the final weeks of the 2022 season at Double A.
Baseball America ranks Montgomery No. 39 on its list of the top 100 prospects.
“He’s always eager to learn because he knows that’s how he’s going to get himself better on the