Colson Montgomery discovered so much about himself as a hitter this season. The results of that introspection? He’s going again to the method that not solely helped make him the highest prospect within the Chicago White Sox system, but additionally has him ranked seventeenth general on The Board. Striving for extra pull-side energy, the left-handed-hitting shortstop slashed a disappointing .214/.329/.381 with Triple-A Charlotte. And whereas the 22-year-old did hit a career-best 18 house runs, he additionally fanned 164 occasions whereas logging a 28.6% strikeout price. With the caveat that the 2021 first spherical choose was one of many youngest gamers within the Worldwide League, Montgomery clearly underperformed expectations with the bat. A readjustment was so as.
Montgomery, who’s at the moment performing some fine-tuning with the Arizona Fall League’s Glendale Desert Canines, mentioned his learning-curve season earlier this week.
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David Laurila: What has the event course of been for you when it comes to your mechanics and method?
Colson Montgomery: “Earlier in your profession, it’s type of an experiment of who you might be as a hitter. You don’t actually know but, since you in all probability haven’t confronted adversity or failure. Additionally, if you’re so much youthful, you aren’t dealing with the most effective arms. The earlier you’ll be able to go in opposition to the most effective of the most effective arms is when you’ll be able to be taught so much about your self.
“Early in my profession, I figured that I used to be extra of a contact hitter, hitting the ball the place it was pitched, just about. Once I obtained older and began getting a bit stronger, I began making an attempt to make use of that energy and energy for extra homers. I attempted pulling the ball a bit an excessive amount of. That’s type of why I confronted a variety of struggles this 12 months. I obtained away from who I used to be, which is a man who takes his walks and hits the ball the place it’s pitched. Then, if I hit the pitch that I’m on the lookout for, I’m capable of do injury on it; sometimes I’ll catch one out entrance and hit a homer. So, I’m actually simply making an attempt to be on time — type of have a bit dance with the pitcher — making an attempt to get myself in the most effective place to hit the ball that I need to hit.”
Laurila: You undoubtedly have the construct to hit for some energy. Has your physicality modified in any respect since getting into professional ball?
Montgomery: “I’m 6-4, 235. Once I was drafted, I used to be 6-3 and round 190, so I’ve placed on some mass. I believe a variety of that has been pure, however I’ve additionally labored my butt off within the weight room to get stronger. You’ve obtained to do this as a way to stand up to an extended season.”
Laurila: Getting again to how not making an attempt to drag the ball for energy is an adjustment you felt you wanted to make…
Montgomery: “Sure. I might say the vast majority of the 12 months I felt like I used to be pulling the ball extra. I don’t know if that was as a result of I used to be taking part in in Charlotte, which is a shorter ballpark and I felt like that was all I wanted to do. That mentioned, should you take a look at my hit graphs, I truly was spraying the ball throughout the sector. Once more, that’s what I do nicely, hit the ball the place it’s pitched and never attempt to do an excessive amount of. I’m joyful that I went by way of the struggles this 12 months. I actually discovered so much about myself.”
Laurila: Had been there precise mechanical adjustments if you have been making an attempt to drag the ball extra?
Montgomery: “I might say that it was extra that I used to be beneath the ball on a regular basis. There have been occasions the place I felt like I used to be on time, however then I’d swing and miss. I’d be like, ‘Why am I swinging and lacking?’ It was as a result of my bat head wasn’t within the zone lengthy sufficient [compared to] what I often do.”
Laurila: What led to that from a mechanical standpoint? I’m guessing your decrease half performed a job?
Montgomery: “Yeah. That type of steers my preliminary transfer, and my cue is my palms. As soon as I get into rhythm right here [hands in the firing position], the whole lot else unloads the best way I need it to. I believe the most important factor was that I type of modified… there have been occasions in the course of the season the place I used to be type of ready to see the pitch, relatively than anticipating the pitch. Once I anticipated the pitch was once I was at my finest.”
Laurila: How a lot of that’s intuition, versus scouting studies?
Montgomery: “I might say a variety of it’s intuition — most of it’s intuition — and if I’m anticipating fastball center away, that helps me keep on the pitches much more. If I see breaking balls, I’m capable of clear them out to proper. However the majority of the time, I’m pondering fastball center away and making an attempt to hit it by way of the batter’s eye.”
Laurila: Does “hit it by way of the batter’s eye” imply making an attempt to drive the ball 400 toes, or are you might be merely making an attempt to sq. up the baseball?
Montgomery: “I’m just about simply making an attempt to hit the ball. I imply, as soon as I get myself in the proper place, and I’m anticipating, the whole lot else type of simply goes black. I just about simply swing. You react to your instincts. I believe I obtained away from trusting my instincts a bit bit this 12 months. I’m joyful that I’m again to trusting my instincts a bit higher.”
Laurila: Did the extent of competitors you confronted this 12 months play a significant function within the struggles you had, or was it largely simply on you?
Montgomery: “I imply, I confronted a variety of actually good pitchers, however I do suppose that a variety of it was me. I used to be in a bit little bit of a psychological funk, making an attempt to determine what I wanted to do, when it was the best factor. Anticipating the pitch was actually all I wanted to do. So sure, I might say a variety of it was simply myself.”
Laurila: One final thing on making an attempt to hit for extra energy: Was that one thing the group wished, or was it largely you pondering, “I’m a giant dude who can juice a baseball”?
Montgomery: “It was all me. The org wished me to remain the best way I used to be. I used to be driving the ball the place it was pitched, everywhere in the discipline, and once more, that’s once I’m at my finest. I simply obtained away from that. I actually don’t know what else to say. That’s just about all it was. However I’m feeling actually good now. I believe I’m again to the place I have to be.”
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Earlier “Talks Hitting” interviews can discovered by way of these hyperlinks: Jo Adell, Jeff Albert, Greg Allen, Nolan Arenado, Aaron Bates, Jacob Berry, Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette, Justice Bigbie, Cavan Biggio, Charlie Blackmon, JJ Bleday, Bobby Bradley, Will Brennan, Jay Bruce, Triston Casas, Matt Chapman, Michael Chavis, Garrett Cooper, Gavin Cross, Jacob Cruz, Nelson Cruz, Paul DeJong, Josh Donaldson, Brendan Donovan, Donnie Ecker, Rick Eckstein, Drew Ferguson, Justin Foscue, Michael Fransoso, Ryan Fuller, Joey Gallo, Paul Goldschmidt, Devlin Granberg, Matt Hague, Andy Haines, Mitch Haniger, Robert Hassell III, Austin Hays, Nico Hoerner, Jackson Holliday, Spencer Horwitz, Rhys Hoskins, Eric Hosmer, Jacob Hurtubise, Tim Hyers, Connor Joe, Jace Jung, Josh Jung, Jimmy Kerr, Heston Kjerstad, Steven Kwan, Trevor Larnach, Doug Latta, Royce Lewis, Evan Longoria, Joey Loperfido, Michael Lorenzen, Gavin Lux, Dave Magadan, Trey Mancini, Edgar Martinez, Don Mattingly, Marcelo Mayer, Hunter Mense, Owen Miller, Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins, Daniel Murphy, Lars Nootbaar, Logan O’Hoppe, Vinnie Pasquantino, Graham Pauley, David Peralta, Luke Raley, Julio Rodríguez, Brent Rooker, Anthony Santander, Drew Saylor, Nolan Schanuel, Marcus Semien, Giancarlo Stanton, Spencer Steer, Trevor Story, Fernando Tatis Jr., Spencer Torkelson, Mark Trumbo, Brice Turang, Justin Turner, Trea Turner, Josh VanMeter, Robert Van Scoyoc, Chris Valaika, Zac Veen, Alex Verdugo, Mark Vientos, Matt Vierling, Luke Voit, Anthony Volpe, Joey Votto, Christian Walker, Jared Walsh, Jordan Westburg, Jesse Winker, Bobby Witt Jr. Mike Yastrzemski, Nick Yorke, Kevin Youkilis