Saturday, September 13

CHICAGO -- Noah Schultz, the No. 2 White Sox prospect and No. 37 in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, will not be part of the Arizona Fall League as planned due to a right knee issue for the left-handed hurler.

Outfielder Braden Montgomery, (Chicago’s No. 1 prospect, No. 32 overall), still figures to play for Glendale, but possibly not at the Oct. 7 outset due to a small fracture in his right foot that he sustained when he was hit by a pitch.

All told, eight players will extend their 2025 season in Arizona.

“It’s a compliment to them, what we feel like are some of our better players,” White Sox director of player development Paul Janish said Thursday. “After having a good year, to me, it’s one of those things you look at as the opportunity to extend their season in preparation for, hopefully, what will be a Major League season at some point down the road.

“In addition, continuing to play against some of the better competition. The guys we are sending, I think they will all welcome that challenge. There’s an understanding that you just got done with a long season and [are] getting ready to play a little bit more, but our players enjoy getting the opportunity.”

Montgomery, 22, produced stellar numbers over his first professional season, slashing .270/.360/.444 with 12 home runs, 34 doubles, 68 RBIs, 64 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. The switch-hitter played for Single-A Kannapolis and High-A Winston-Salem before finishing with Double-A Birmingham.

Montgomery’s post-injury path could lead him to the Majors in 2026, even with only 448 at-bats and 121 Minor League games on his resume. AFL time with the Desert Dogs should contribute to that goal.

“He’s as competitive as anybody we have. He loves to play and really work. He’s excited about getting to go,” Janish said. “He was very intentional with letting us know he was wanting to play. We’ll make sure he’s healthy, but he’s looking forward to it.”

“I just want to get some more experience and continue to build out whatever approach I believe could help prepare me for whatever is next for me going into next season,” Montgomery said. “I want to continue to keep moving the needle overall, and I get to see some more really good competition as I’m up [at] these levels, seeing better and better players. I’m rounding up the approach more as I get there.”

Left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith (No. 5 White Sox, No. 88 overall); right-handed pitchers Carson Jacobs, Connor McCullough, Tyler Davis and Jarold Rosado; infielder Sam Antonacci (No. 11 White Sox) and first baseman Ryan Galanie are expected to join Montgomery as the White Sox AFL representatives. Smith is considered a prime starting-pitching prospect within Chicago’s system despite a somewhat uneven 2025 campaign.

Smith, 22, was the team’s top pick (fifth overall) of the 2024 Draft. He has struck out 108 over 75 2/3 innings and posted a 3.57 ERA in 20 starts for Birmingham, with 42 hits allowed and 56 walks. He’ll be part of the Barons’ Southern League postseason before he reports to Arizona.

“There’s no question in terms of [Smith] starting, that’s for sure,” Janish said. “This is just a way for him to bridge the gap for the small piece of time he missed in the middle of the season and just get his innings.

“Hagen is one of those guys, too, that’s going to continue to get better as he gets challenged. We’ll see when the time comes and he gets called up to the big leagues. I think he’s going to raise his game to compete at the level he’s at.”

Antonacci, 22, was a fifth-round selection in the 2024 Draft. His prospect rise once could be considered a surprise, but not after he posted a .435 on-base percentage and an .840 OPS within 395 at-bats, primarily for Winston-Salem and Birmingham.

“You talk about identity and who you want to be as an organization, and he represents it,” Janish said. “He plays the game hard.

“Single to left field, he’s busting it around first to add pressure and get to second. He takes hit-by-pitches as good as anybody that I’ve seen at the Minor League level (34 times in 2025). There’s a lot of things that add up. Defensive versatility. I don’t think he’s sneaking up on anyone anymore.”

Judging the White Sox progress in 2025 should be compared against how they started and not by the 41-121 rough ride of ’24. With that in mind, Chicago players, coaches and front office members are encouraged by the team’s play since the All-Star break.

That satisfied group also includes fans, who earned their right to skepticism within this rebuild.

“We go places, and people are just … excited with all this stuff going on right now,” said shortstop Colson Montgomery, who had 47 RBIs in his last 47 games entering play Saturday. “Same thing at games. We all can feel the energy that fans bring, and we appreciate it a lot. We just want them to keep supporting us as much as they can.”

• White Sox manager Will Venable made it seem highly unlikely that Luis Robert Jr. would return this season from a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. It will be interesting to see how the talented and hard-working Robert fits this team next season, with a $20 million club option and $2 million buyout.

• I went to the Bears game on Monday and sat near White Sox third baseman/first baseman Miguel Vargas, who, as a Vikings fan, was happy with the final outcome. It was one of the most perfect sports weather nights I’ve experienced.

• Michigan football needs to win today. Same with the Bears on Sunday.

“Everybody holds each other accountable. We are here to win. … It’s a group of leaders in here right now.” -- second baseman Chase Meidroth

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