Colson Montgomery discovered quite a bit about himself as a hitter this season. The results of that introspection? He’s going again to the strategy that not solely helped make him the highest prospect within the Chicago White Sox system, but additionally has him ranked seventeenth total 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 instances whereas logging a 28.6% strikeout charge. With the caveat that the 2021 first spherical decide 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 performing some fine-tuning with the Arizona Fall League’s Glendale Desert Canine, 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 strategy?
Colson Montgomery: “Earlier in your profession, it’s form 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 quite a bit youthful, you aren’t dealing with the very best arms. The earlier you possibly can go towards the very best of the very best arms is when you possibly can be taught quite a bit 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 just a little stronger, I began attempting to make use of that energy and power for extra homers. I attempted pulling the ball just a little an excessive amount of. That’s form of why I confronted loads of struggles this 12 months. 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; often I’ll catch one out entrance and hit a homer. So, I’m actually simply attempting to be on time — form of have just a little dance with the pitcher — attempting to get myself in the very best place to hit the ball that I wish 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 loads 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 as a way to stand up to a protracted season.”
Laurila: Getting again to how not attempting to tug the ball for energy is an adjustment you felt you wanted to make…
Montgomery: “Sure. I’d 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 stated, when 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 by the struggles this 12 months. I actually discovered quite a bit about myself.”
Laurila: Had been there precise mechanical modifications while you had been attempting to tug the ball extra?
Montgomery: “I’d say that it was extra that I used to be below the ball on a regular basis. There have been instances 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 form 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 way in which I would like it to. I feel the most important factor was that I form of modified… there have been instances throughout the season the place I used to be form of ready to see the pitch, fairly than anticipating the pitch. After I anticipated the pitch was after I was at my finest.”
Laurila: How a lot of that’s intuition, versus scouting reviews?
Montgomery: “I’d say loads 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 attempting to hit it by the batter’s eye.”
Laurila: Does “hit it by the batter’s eye” imply attempting to drive the ball 400 ft, or are you might be merely attempting to sq. up the baseball?
Montgomery: “I’m just about simply attempting to hit the ball. I imply, as soon as I get myself in the precise place, and I’m anticipating, the whole lot else form of simply goes black. I just about simply swing. You react to your instincts. I feel I bought away from trusting my instincts just a little bit this 12 months. I’m completely satisfied that I’m again to trusting my instincts just a little higher.”
Laurila: Did the extent of competitors you confronted this 12 months play a significant function within the struggles you had, or was it principally simply on you?
Montgomery: “I imply, I confronted loads of actually good pitchers, however I do assume that loads of it was me. I used to be in just a little little bit of a psychological funk, attempting to determine what I wanted to do, when it was the only factor. Anticipating the pitch was actually all I wanted to do. So sure, I’d say loads of it was simply myself.”
Laurila: One very last thing on attempting to hit for extra energy: Was that one thing the group needed, or was it principally you considering, “I’m a giant dude who can juice a baseball”?
Montgomery: “It was all me. The org needed me to remain the way in which I used to be. I used to be driving the ball the place it was pitched, everywhere in the subject, and once more, that’s after I’m at my finest. 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 have to be.”
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Earlier “Talks Hitting” interviews can discovered by 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
