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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Chicago White Sox hitting coach Marcus Thames calls top prospect Colson Montgomery “Big Smooth.”
“Because everything he does is nice and easy,” Thames said recently. “He’s a talented young man and I’ve been talking to the coaches that coach him, he’s hot out there and he loves to get after it.”
The shortstop had appeared in 10 Cactus League games this spring heading into Sunday.
This week is highlighted by Friday’s “Spring Break” game against the Cubs in Mesa.
Montgomery, third baseman Bryan Ramos, catcher Edgar Quero and pitcher Jordan Leasure are among the players on the projected Sox roster. Here’s a look at how each fared this spring.
colson montgomery
Montgomery got his first taste of major league camp last spring. He’s taking a bigger bite this year as he continues to progress through the organization – entering Sunday 1-for-16 with two walks and two RBIs.
“I like that I get to play more games, be a backup and get experience at the big league level because that’s what you want to do,” Montgomery told the Tribune on Wednesday. “You want to play at the highest level possible.
“We’re also a lot more relaxed this year. I know a lot more guys, a lot of experienced guys. A lot of them have taken me under their wings; everyone has. It’s a really good vibe.”
The 22-year-old is taking as much as he can.
“(I) learned a lot about how to deal with certain things, how to deal with challenges,” Montgomery said. “How will you continue your work? And from a routine perspective. Do little things throughout the game to gain an advantage, gain an advantage. A lot of experienced guys have been there and done that. “It’s nice of them to give me this little information.”
Teams First round pick in 2021 He later spent time at three levels, the Arizona Complex League White Sox, Class A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham. Delayed onset of mid-back strain To the 2023 season.
He also participated in the Arizona Fall League and earned MVP honors in the Fall Stars Game.
“The Fall League experience was truly great. “I’m happy to play in that,” he said. “It was really good to get those ABs and those games back, especially after how long I missed it (during the season). And it is very important for my development.”
This development continued this spring.
“It’s always nice to be with the guys, play baseball and do what we love to do,” Montgomery said. “A lot of it can be overwhelming, but at the end of the day, it’s a game. “I like to have fun while playing.”
Bryan Ramos
#3 candidate in the organization According to MLB.com He hit 15 home runs in 81 games with two minor league stops last season and spent most of his time in Birmingham.
He was a consistent third baseman this spring, along with going 3-for-11 in 10 games in the Cactus League. On Saturday against the San Diego Padres in Peoria, Ariz., he made a nice catch in foul territory on a ball near the stands.
“I’ve been working a lot defensively because I know I can continue to improve in that area,” Ramos told the Tribune on Sunday. “That’s my goal, to be as complete as I can. Defensively, I want to be an all-around baseball player on the hitting side.”
Like Montgomery, Ramos was impressive in the Arizona Fall League, hitting four home runs and driving in 10 of 23 games. In his second major league camp, he was able to slow down the game even more.
“Last year was my first year, everything was new for me,” said Ramos, who turned 22 on Tuesday. “I know what it is now because I’ve been here before and I’m learning from those guys in the clubhouse. You can see how they work and try to learn from them.
Edgar Quero
![White Sox catcher Edgar Quero is congratulated by teammates after driving in the home run in the bottom of the ninth against the Mariners on Feb. 24, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)](https://bestamericancomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1710111367_630_Latest-developments-about-Colson-Montgomery-and-3-other-candidates.jpg)
The organization’s No. 4 prospect had one hit in three innings of work in three Cactus League games. It happened just in time when he broke out with a ninth-inning single to give the Sox an 8-7 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Feb. 24.
A 20-year-old was among them 12 staff cuts announced on Friday as he was reassigned to minor league camp.
Manager Pedro Grifol said there is a lot to like about Quero, who was acquired as part of a trade in July With Los Angeles Angels.
“He has leadership qualities,” Grifol said Friday. “He has a very good eye on both sides of the plate. He threw the ball from the back very well. He moves well.
“He came to the camp in great shape. It shows his dedication and passion for the game.”
Jordan Holiday
![White Sox pitcher Jordan Leasure. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)](https://bestamericancomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1710111367_942_Latest-developments-about-Colson-Montgomery-and-3-other-candidates.jpg)
Leasure has been one of the camp standouts, coming into Sunday with four scoreless innings and six strikeouts in four save appearances.
“I feel like I’m in a good spot. “All my pitches are right where I want them to be,” Leasure told the Tribune on Saturday. “Everything feels good, the body feels good. I’m just trying to go out there and compete.”
25-year-old Leasure purchased As part of a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers in JulyHe was ranked as the 15th prospect in the organization by MLB.com.
He also gained momentum from the Arizona Fall League, where he had a 1.08 ERA in eight games.
“It was pretty cool to build on that and come here and continue doing what I was doing there,” Leasure said.
As the rivalry continues, this is the kind of performance a team wants in the spring.
“You want guys to step up and take the bull by the horns,” Grifol said Friday. “I’m glad some of the guys said uh-uh, I know you have this plan, but I should be in it too.”