There still is time to make lasting impressions during a lost season with the Chicago White Sox.
For proof, look no further than rookie infielder Colson Montgomery, who hit his first career grand slam Saturday to lead the White Sox to a 7-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
Montgomery will look to stay hot when the White Sox wrap up a weekend series against the visiting Twins on Sunday afternoon.
Montgomery, 23, has 12 homers and 34 RBIs in 41 games in the big leagues. He was Chicago’s first-round pick in 2021 out of Southridge High School in Huntingburg, Ind.
“I’ve always had some juice growing up, and now I’m finally growing into my body and understanding my swing,” said the 6-foot-3 Montgomery. “And that’s what it comes down to the most, using your whole body with swings. … I would say, yeah, I’ve been a power hitter my whole life.”
The rookie’s surge has provided welcome optimism for the White Sox, who have lost seven of their past nine games and whose 46-83 record is the worst in the American League. The only team in the majors with more losses is the Colorado Rockies (93).
Minnesota has fared better than Chicago, but the Twins are sliding fast and reached the 70-loss mark on Saturday. A trade deadline sell-off last month has left its mark on a franchise that is 3-9 over its past 12 games.
Like Montgomery with the White Sox, Royce Lewis has given the Twins something to look forward to based on his recent success at the plate. Lewis hit a grand slam in Friday’s series opener, and he followed with a solo blast on Saturday.
The 26-year-old Lewis boosted his batting average to .233 with eight homers and 34 RBIs in 74 games.
The Twins plan to introduce a new player to the club for the second day in a row on Sunday. Taj Bradley, whom the team acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays before the trade deadline for reliever Griffin Jax, is expected to take the mound and make his Twins debut.
Bradley, a 24-year-old right-hander, was 6-6 with a 4.61 ERA in 21 starts for the Rays this season. He has made one career start against the White Sox, who tagged him for four runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings in the Rays’ 11-9 loss on July 23.
The White Sox will counter with right-hander Yoendrys Gomez (3-1, 5.53), who is set to make his third start of the season. The 25-year-old is on his third team this season but has found some success with Chicago, going 2-0 with a 4.73 ERA in five games (two starts).
Gomez has never faced the Twins.
Bradley will hope for a better outing than teammate Mick Abel, who made his Twins debut one day earlier. Minnesota acquired Abel from the Philadelphia Phillies as part of a package for closer Jhoan Duran last month.
Abel’s team debut did not go well, as he gave up six runs on seven hits in three innings.
“It was frustrating not to be able to execute like I should,” Abel said.
The White Sox are 27-37 at home this season, and the Twins are 26-39 on the road.
–Field Level Media
