Colson Montgomery realized lots 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 in addition 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 dwelling runs, he additionally fanned 164 occasions whereas logging a 28.6% strikeout fee. 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 present doing a little 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 by way of your mechanics and method?
Colson Montgomery: “Earlier in your profession, it’s sort of an experiment of who you might be as a hitter. You don’t actually know but, since you most likely haven’t confronted adversity or failure. Additionally, while you’re lots youthful, you aren’t going through the most effective arms. The earlier you’ll be able to go towards the most effective of the most effective arms is when you’ll be able to be taught lots 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. After I bought older and began getting slightly stronger, I began making an attempt to make use of that energy and power for extra homers. I attempted pulling the ball slightly an excessive amount of. That’s sort of why I confronted a variety of struggles this yr. I bought 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 harm 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 — sort of have slightly 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. After I was drafted, I used to be 6-3 and round 190, so I’ve placed on some mass. I feel a variety of that has been pure, however I’ve additionally labored my butt off within the weight room to get stronger. You’ve bought to do this with a view to face up to a protracted 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’d say nearly all of the yr 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 stated, should you have a look at my hit graphs, I really 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 completely satisfied that I went via the struggles this yr. I actually realized lots about myself.”
Laurila: Have been there precise mechanical modifications while you have been making an attempt to drag the ball extra?
Montgomery: “I’d say that it was extra that I used to be underneath 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 normally do.”
Laurila: What led to that from a mechanical standpoint? I’m guessing your decrease half performed a job?
Montgomery: “Yeah. That sort of steers my preliminary transfer, and my cue is my fingers. As soon as I get into rhythm right here [hands in the firing position], every little thing else unloads the way in which I would like it to. I feel the most important factor was that I sort of modified… there have been occasions in the course of the season the place I used to be sort of ready to see the pitch, relatively than anticipating the pitch. After I anticipated the pitch was once I was at my greatest.”
Laurila: How a lot of that’s intuition, versus scouting studies?
Montgomery: “I’d 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 considering fastball center away and making an attempt to hit it via the batter’s eye.”
Laurila: Does “hit it via the batter’s eye” imply making an attempt to drive the ball 400 ft, 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, every little thing else sort of simply goes black. I just about simply swing. You react to your instincts. I feel I bought away from trusting my instincts slightly bit this yr. I’m completely satisfied that I’m again to trusting my instincts slightly higher.”
Laurila: Did the extent of competitors you confronted this yr play a significant position 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 assume that a variety of it was me. I used to be in slightly 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’d say a variety of it was simply myself.”
Laurila: One last item on making an attempt to hit for extra energy: Was that one thing the group wished, or was it largely you considering, “I’m an enormous dude who can juice a baseball”?
Montgomery: “It was all me. The org wished me to remain the way in which I used to be. I used to be driving the ball the place it was pitched, all around the discipline, and once more, that’s once I’m at my greatest. I simply bought 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 feel I’m again to the place I must be.”
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Earlier “Talks Hitting” interviews can discovered via 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