GLENDALE, Ariz. — Shortstop Colson Montgomery’s minor back setback that sidelined him for more than a week was a stark reminder to the 22-year-old that he should do everything in his own power to stay healthy.
“A lot of it’s on myself,” Montgomery said Sunday after playing for the first time since Feb. 26 due to a back spasm. “Like what I was saying a couple days ago with non-negotiables. I’ve got to take care of my body with whatever it may be, hydration, nutrition and also, after the games, getting treatment, things like that. So that’s one thing [manager Will] Venable really emphasizes to everybody is to just take care of our bodies.”
Montgomery, MLB Pipeline’s No. 39th ranked prospect, camp to spring training with an opportunity to make the Opening Day roster. The 6-4 left-handed hitter who owns a .253/.376/.414 hitting line with 192 walks and 37 homers in 316 minor league games is 1-for-9 with five strikeouts – the only hit a homer against the Cubs in the first game — and in the field has manned his position without incident. There’s no one really standing in his way, it seems, and it’s his time to make the step to the majors after four seasons in the minors, some of them marked with time on the injured list with back and oblique issues.
When he felt something in his back during batting practice on his 23rd birthday Feb. 27, Montgomery quit swinging and was scratched from the lineup. He and general manager Chris Getz downplayed the magnitude of it, but Montgomery missed 10 days of game action in which he would have been been playing every other day as players do early in camp.
“I was taking it slow just because I knew I tweaked it in February and this is early March,” Montgomery said. “I still knew there was plenty of time and I didn’t need to really rush out there. But, I felt good so I was going to go with what my body was telling me. I’ve played with this stuff before and usually doesn’t linger very too long. And this one didn’t really linger that long, either. But it’s kind of like what Venable was telling me, whenever I started feeling good, two days after that we’ll start playing. So it’s just precaution.”
Montgomery struck out on a breaking ball from Gavin Williams and grounded out in two plate appearances. In the field, he was immediately tested with a pop fly in the sun. He also fielded a ground ball on his backhand and made a relatively simple tag when catcher Matt Thaiss threw out Lane Thomas attempting to steal.
“Felt natural,” Montgomery said.
There are two weeks left in spring training, with games on all but one day. Montgomery said he was talking in the dugout about how comfortable he felt on the infield despite the missed time.
“That kind of goes into the early work [with coach Justin Jirschele] to get ready, get my hands locked in, get my feet locked in,” he said. “Just be mentally prepared, because that’s one of the biggest things. I feel like I can do a lot of things physically, but a lot of errors are routine plays, mental mistakes. So that’s really what I’m trying to improve on and just keep building on, is just being mentally prepared for every pitch.”
The shortstop question – whether he’s suited to stay there or will be moved to another position such as third base – hasn’t gone away, so Getz telling Montgomery he has looked the best he’s seen of him this spring was a boost.
“So that’s great to hear that from our GM,” Montgomery said. “And it’s really cool just to hear that because he played, too. So we talk a little bit about everything, honestly. I just feel natural out there. And I don’t really feel like I’m pressing too much. I’m not really being too eager. I’m just kind of letting the game dictate whatever, and I’m just kind of going with the flow.”