The White Sox announced the signing of first-round draft choice Colson Montgomery, a left-handed hitting high school shortstop from Southridge (Huntingburg, Ind.) High School.
Selected with the 22nd pick, the 6-4, 190-pounder was the first high school player taken by the Sox in the first round since the 2012 draft, when outfielder Courtney Hawkins was picked 13th.
A three-sport star, Montgomery had designs on playing baseball and basketball at Indiana but instead signed for a $3.027 million bonus, which is full slot value for the 22nd pick.
“Coming to the stadium, signing that contract and putting on a White Sox jersey is a dream come true,” said Montgomery, who signed at Guaranteed Rate Field before the Sox played the Twins Tuesday night.
Montgomery, 19, spoke to reporters about an hour before he was slated to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Montgomery batted .338 with seven homers, nine doubles, 23 RBI and 41 runs scored during his senior season, leading the Raiders to the IHSAA Class 3A state championship in 2021. He was an All-America Second Team selection by Baseball America and MaxPreps. He will attend a minicamp with other draftees soon before reporting to the Sox training complex in Glendale, Ariz.
“Baseball is my life right now,” Montgomery said. “I’m very excited to get after it and put all the work in for it.”
Montgomery is the first shortstop taken by the Sox since Tim Anderson in 2013. Twelve of the 26 players on the Sox’ active roster came through the farm system, including first-round picks Anderson, left-hander Carlos Rodon (’14), catcher Zack Collins (’16), third baseman Jake Burger (’17), left fielder Andrew Vaughn (’19) and left-hander Garrett Crochet (’20). First baseman-outfielder Gavin Sheets was picked in the second round in 2016.
Montgomery’s parents and four siblings were in attendance Tuesday.
“My parents raised me right, being humble and everything that,” he said. “I’m not worried about the money or fame getting to my head because I know I have people bringing me down to reality.”
