{"id":560056,"date":"2026-02-07T19:40:51","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T19:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/560056\/"},"modified":"2026-02-07T19:40:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T19:40:51","slug":"spring-training-storylines-to-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/560056\/","title":{"rendered":"Spring training storylines to watch"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery experienced a little bit of everything in 2025.<\/p>\n

He went through an early-season reset while in the minor leagues, going to Arizona for a short period to fine-tune his swing. Montgomery bounced back, reaching the majors on July 4<\/a>. He provided plenty of fireworks the rest of the way, hitting 21 home runs in 71 games<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce I got up here to Chicago, I just started having the most fun I\u2019ve ever had in my life,\u201d Montgomery said during SoxFest Live on Jan. 30 at the Ramova Theatre. \u201cIt\u2019s everything you\u2019ve worked for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Montgomery was part of a wave of Sox prospects to go from the minors to the majors last season, along with infielder Chase Meidroth, catchers Edgar Quero and Kyle Teel and pitcher Grant Taylor.<\/p>\n

That group enters 2026 looking to build on those initial big-league moments.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve done a lot this offseason to get my body ready for 162,\u201d Montgomery said.<\/p>\n

Manager Will Venable is also heading into Year 2.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all learning and growing and getting better and certainly feel like I\u2019m one year better than I was last year and have a season long of experiences to help guide me and help me better in my job on a daily basis,\u201d Venable said on Jan. 29. \u201cI\u2019m excited about what can come of that and know that we\u2019ve got a lot of work to do at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The work continues with the arrival of spring training. The first workout for Sox pitchers and catchers takes place Tuesday in Glendale, Ariz. The first full-squad workout is set for Feb. 15.<\/p>\n

The continued development of the young core, which also includes the likes of pitchers Shane Smith and Mike Vasil and third baseman Miguel Vargas, will be a focus this spring. Here are three more Sox spring training storylines ahead of the start of camp.<\/p>\n

Want the latest White Sox news? Subscribe to the Chicago Tribune<\/a> to read it all \u2014 and sign up for our free White Sox Insider newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1. What roles will the offseason additions \u2014 including Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami \u2014 fill?
\n\"New<\/p>\n

New White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami walks onto the field during a news conference announcing his acquisition on Dec. 22, 2025, at Rate Field. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"White<\/p>\n

White Sox executive vice president and general manager Chris Getz laughs as new Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami pulls out a Chicago White Sox sock during a press conference at Rate Field on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, announcing the acquisition of Murakami. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"New<\/p>\n

New Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami stands on the field during a press conference at Rate Field on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, announcing the acquisition of Murakami. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"White<\/p>\n

White Sox executive vice president and general manager Chris Getz presents Munetaka Murakami with a Chicago White Sox jersey during a press conference at Rate Field on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, announcing the acquisition of Murakami. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"New<\/p>\n

New Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami holds up a baseball he signed during a press conference at Rate Field on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, announcing the acquisition of Murakami. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"New<\/p>\n

New Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami stands on the field during a press conference at Rate Field on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, announcing the acquisition of Murakami. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"New<\/p>\n

New Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami gives a speech during a press conference at Rate Field on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, announcing the acquisition of Murakami. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"New<\/p>\n

New Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami shakes hands with White Sox executive vice president and general manager Chris Getz during a press conference at Rate Field on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, announcing the acquisition of Murakami. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"White<\/p>\n

White Sox executive vice president and general manager Chris Getz and Munetaka Murakami answer questions during a press conference at Rate Field on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, announcing the acquisition of Murakami. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"White<\/p>\n

White Sox executive vice president and general manager Chris Getz claps after Munetaka Murakami gives a speech during a press conference at Rate Field on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, announcing the acquisition of Murakami. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"Japan<\/p>\n

Japan infielder Munetaka Murakami hits a solo home run against USA in the third inning of the gold medal baseball game on Aug. 7, 2021 at Yokohama Baseball Stadium during the Tokyo Olympics. (Brian Cassella\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"Japan's<\/p>\n

Japan’s Munetaka Murakami runs the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning of a World Baseball Classic game against the United States on March 21, 2023, in Miami. (AP Photo\/Marta Lavandier)<\/p>\n

\"Japan's<\/p>\n

Japan’s Munetaka Murakami hits a home run during the gold medal baseball game against the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Aug. 7, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo\/Sue Ogrocki)<\/p>\n

\"Japan<\/p>\n

Japan infielder Munetaka Murakami (55) celebrates a solo home run against USA in the third inning of the gold medal baseball game on Aug. 7, 2021 at Yokohama Baseball Stadium during the Tokyo Olympics. (Brian Cassella\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 14<\/p>\n

New White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami walks onto the field during a news conference announcing his acquisition on Dec. 22, 2025, at Rate Field. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

The Sox have been very active this offseason with trades and signings.<\/p>\n

They added power, along with a large international following, by signing first baseman Munetaka Murakami<\/a> to a two-year, $34 million contract on Dec. 21. The two-time Nippon Professional Baseball Japanese Central League Most Valuable Player hit 246 home runs over the last eight seasons with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.<\/p>\n

He could give the Sox another much-needed longball threat.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a star,\u201d Vargas told the Tribune on Jan. 30 at SoxFest Live. \u201cHe\u2019s a guy who\u2019s an MVP in Japan, he can hit. I think for us, the most important thing is make this a home, make him feel welcomed (so) he can be the best he can be.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Sox signed starter Anthony Kay<\/a>, who returns to the majors after spending the last two seasons in Japan, to a two-year deal. They bolstered the bullpen, agreeing to a two-year deal with Seranthony Dom\u00ednguez<\/a>.<\/p>\n

They added pitching depth, coming to terms on a one-year deal with Sean Newcomb, acquiring Chris Murphy in a trade from the Boston Red Sox and selecting Jedixson Paez and Alexander Alberto in the Rule 5 draft. The Sox gave a boost to their outfielder, agreeing to a one-year contract with Austin Hays that became official Wednesday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Sox will have a new-look outfield after trading center fielder Luis Robert Jr.<\/a> to the New York Mets. One of the players the team acquired in the deal, Luisangel Acu\u00f1a, will see time in center.<\/p>\n

Earlier in the offseason, the Sox acquired outfielders Everson Pereira and Tristan Peters in separate trades with the Tampa Bay Rays. And they began February with another trade, acquiring pitchers Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin<\/a> from the Boston Red Sox. Hicks has worked as a starter and reliever in the past.<\/p>\n

The Sox will get the chance to see how best to utilize all the additions during the spring.<\/p>\n

2. Which prospects are getting closer to a big-league debut?
\n\"WhiteWhite Sox prospects, from left, George Wolkow, Braden Montgomery, Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz have a laugh as players are introduced during SoxFest on Jan. 25, 2025, at the Ramova Theatre. (Chris Sweda\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a possibility that pitchers Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith<\/a> and outfielder Braden Montgomery will be among the prospects to aid the Sox at some point in 2026.<\/p>\n

All three are among the 25 nonroster invitees to camp.<\/p>\n

Schultz, from Oswego East, pitched at Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte last season. Smith spent 2025 with the Barons.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t wait to see these guys in spring training,\u201d general manager Chris Getz said on Jan. 29. \u201cNoah is feeling really good and the way Hagen finished the season last year in the playoffs and the (Arizona) Fall League. 2026 is a new season for those guys and us and we anticipate that they are going to be able to help us at some point.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut most importantly coming to spring training, have a productive one, be healthy and have the best version of themselves throughout the year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schultz \u2014 a first-round pick in 2022 \u2014 is the No. 49-ranked prospect in baseball entering 2026, according to MLB.com<\/a>. Smith, the team\u2019s first-round pick in 2024, is No. 72 on the list.<\/p>\n

MLB.com ranked Montgomery at No. 36. He played for Class A Kannapolis, High Class A Winston-Salem and Birmingham in 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Montgomery) works as hard as anybody in the organization, which is a benefit to us because we can point to him and highlight that,\u201d Sox director of player development Paul Janish said during a recent videoconference call. \u201cThat\u2019s beneficial not just for himself but for his teammates.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe talk a lot about his offensive capabilities but he has a really, really strong desire to be a complete player and he works at it. I\u2019m excited for his year that\u2019s coming up. We\u2019ll see where the road leads.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. How will the WBC affect the spring?
\n\"ChicagoWhite Sox catcher Kyle Teel drops his bat after hitting an RBI single against the Royals on Aug. 26, 2025, at Rate Field. (Chris Sweda\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

The World Baseball Classic returns, and five Sox players were on rosters released Thursday evening.<\/p>\n

That includes Murakami for Team Japan, Dom\u00ednguez for Team Dominican Republic and Teel for Team Italy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Infielder Sam Antonacci<\/a> \u2014 competing for a roster spot after a strong 2025 playing largely for Winston-Salem and Birmingham along with 19 games in the AFL \u2014 joins Teel on Italy. He is a nonroster invitee to Sox camp.<\/p>\n

Infielder Curtis Mead<\/a>, who played 41 games for the Sox after coming over last season in a trade from the Rays, is on Team Australia.<\/p>\n

The WBC\u2019s first round is March 5-11, with Japan and Australia among the teams in Tokyo, Italy playing in Houston and the Dominican Republic in Miami. The top-two teams from each pool advance to the quarterfinals, scheduled for March 13-14 in Houston and Miami. The semifinals will be played March 15-16 in Miami, with the championship game the next day.<\/p>\n

The players will join their respective teams for a portion of camp and return to Glendale as the Sox inch closer and closer to the start of the regular season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery experienced a little bit of everything in 2025. He went through an…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":560057,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2379],"tags":[63676,10945,124,5,6080,1001,138,49,2561,14167,10448,19259,458,10857,71302,11613,3632,61347,204,13095,2186,4154,6278,4,73,10557,751,2539,3399,151,30019,396,2562,998],"class_list":{"0":"post-560056","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chicago-white-sox","8":"tag-alexander-alberto","9":"tag-anthony-kay","10":"tag-austin-hays","11":"tag-baseball","12":"tag-braden-montgomery","13":"tag-chase-meidroth","14":"tag-chicago","15":"tag-chicago-white-sox","16":"tag-chicagowhitesox","17":"tag-chris-murphy","18":"tag-colson-montgomery","19":"tag-david-sandlin","20":"tag-edgar-quero","21":"tag-everson-pereira","22":"tag-glendale","23":"tag-grant-taylor","24":"tag-hagen-smith","25":"tag-jedixson-paez","26":"tag-jordan-hicks","27":"tag-kyle-teel","28":"tag-luisangel-acuna","29":"tag-miguel-vargas","30":"tag-mike-vasil","31":"tag-mlb","32":"tag-munetaka-murakami","33":"tag-noah-schultz","34":"tag-sean-newcomb","35":"tag-seranthony-dominguez","36":"tag-shane-smith","37":"tag-spring-training","38":"tag-tristan-peters","39":"tag-white-sox","40":"tag-whitesox","41":"tag-will-venable"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/560056","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=560056"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/560056\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/560057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=560056"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=560056"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=560056"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}