Braden Montgomery, the Chicago White Sox's top prospect, hit a home run and a triple in a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs during spring training at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona. The 22-year-old switch-hitting outfielder expressed his long-term ambition to reach the Hall of Fame while emphasizing a day-by-day approach. Acquired from the Boston Red Sox in a trade for Garrett Crochet, Montgomery impressed with his power and speed in the game.
The Chicago White Sox defeated the Chicago Cubs 5-1 on Sunday at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, marking their second intracity win in two spring training tries. Braden Montgomery contributed significantly, hitting a home run in the second inning and a triple in the sixth.
Montgomery, MLB Pipeline’s No. 36 overall prospect and the White Sox's No. 1 prospect, connected on a 1-1 sweeper from Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga with two outs in the second. The drive to left traveled 375 feet with a 107.7 mph exit velocity, according to Statcast, and was one of three home runs hit against Imanaga, contributing to the White Sox's four total home runs in the game.
In the sixth, Montgomery tripled off Luke Little, with the ball carrying over the head of right fielder Michael Conforto at an exit velocity of 101.9 mph. He glided around the bases to third, showcasing his speed.
“I’ll take it a day at a time,” Montgomery said after the game. “We’ll see what happens at the end of it. We’ll see what happens when you’re goal-oriented and you take a pitch at a time, a second at a time.”
The outfielder, who aspires to Hall of Fame status, detailed his meticulous preparation, focusing on specific hitting situations and pitches beyond standard Cactus League work. “Those triples always feel better because you get to go off to the races,” he added. “All eyes on you and you get to see what you can do.”
Montgomery was acquired from the Boston Red Sox as part of a four-player trade return for Garrett Crochet. In the 2025 minor league season, he slashed .270/.360/.444 with 12 home runs, 34 doubles, 68 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases across three stops. He also performed well in the Arizona Fall League, posting one home run, 11 RBIs, and three stolen bases in 12 games with Glendale.
General manager Chris Getz has stated that Montgomery will start the 2026 season in the minors, though the prospect aims for the majors soon. “Ever since I watched Derek Jeter play, I knew I wanted to be in the big leagues,” Montgomery said. “Probably around 10 or 11 years old, I knew I wanted to be the best to play baseball. Obviously it’s not even day one of my big league career yet, but I take it day by day.”
