Monday’s second-inning at-bat provided excellent insight into Chicago White Sox rookie outfielder Braden Montgomery’s approach at the plate.
The switch-hitter, batting from the left side, squared off against Cleveland Guardians starter Gavin Williams with a runner on first base and two outs in a scoreless game.
“The guy’s got a powerful fastball, he’s a powerful arm,” Montgomery said after the game. “You always want to be ready for the heater.”
Montgomery swung and missed on the first pitch, a 98.3 mph two-seam fastball.
“I feel like that first pitch he threw was a really good heater,” Montgomery said. “I’m late on it, so knowing that, I know there’s a chance I’m going to get another one. And so I’m dang sure I’m not going to miss the next one.”
The next pitch was a 98.5 mph four-seam fastball in the upper part of the strike zone. Montgomery displayed a nice piece of hitting, driving the ball to left field for a run-scoring double.
“I got something over the plate and did something positive with it and was excited to be able to make that happen,” Montgomery said.
It was the first of two doubles on Monday for Montgomery in the 6-5 victory at Rate Field. Montgomery went 2-for-3 with two runs and a walk.
He entered Tuesday’s game against the Guardians with five hits in his last 10 at-bats.
“After the first couple of games (in the major leagues) were so good for Braden, they started attacking with the fastballs,” manager Will Venable said on Monday. “And he’s made a really good adjustment.”
Montgomery had four hits in his first two big-league games, including the walk-off two-run home run in the ninth inning of his debut on June 9 against the Atlanta Braves. He was 2-for-23 over the next seven games. He’s rebounded with the five hits in the last three games.
Montgomery came into Tuesday slashing .262/.311/.452 with five doubles, one home run, five RBIs and seven runs in 12 games. He’s had four multi-hit games.
A big moment on Monday came when he showed patience in the ninth inning. The Sox were on the ropes after giving up the lead in the top of the ninth. Trailing by a run with one out, Montgomery faced Guardians closer Cade Smith.
“Another power arm,” Montgomery said. “Give yourself the best chance to be successful. Breathe. Eliminate everything except for wanting to hit a strike and wanting to take where he’s wanting to get you to chase.”
Montgomery took a strike but then laid off the next four pitches out of the zone to draw a walk.
“He’s got some really powerful pitches,” Montgomery said. “You’ve got to be able to lay off the splitter down, heater up, and then you’ve got to be able to get a good swing off on time once he comes to see you because he’s got power stuff.
“That’s kind of the mindset. Let’s get something to deal with and not expand to help him out. With power stuff like that, any time you’re leaving the zone that puts you in that much more of a hole.”
Representing the tying run, Montgomery quickly advanced to third on Tristan Peters’ check-swing double. Both Montgomery and Peters scored on Sam Antonacci’s two-out, game-winning single to center field.
It was the sixth walk-off victory of the season for the Sox, tied with the Seattle Mariners for the most in the American League.
“It’s falling back on your preparation,” Montgomery said of the team’s late-inning performances. “You have done your best to give yourself the best chance at success in moments like those. You don’t panic.
“We play a lot of games. You either execute or you don’t. And so you really just put your best foot forward and live with the results and be convicted in what you’re doing.”
Montgomery is enjoying doing his part to contribute.
“Even having a couple of good games, you’ve still got to show up to the ballyard the next day and put your work in and prepare for whatever you might see because all you can do as a hitter is do with what you’re given from the pitchers,” Montgomery said.
“The past couple of days I’ve been given pitches that I could handle and put a swing on, but that’s no guarantee that something similar would happen tomorrow.”
