GLENDALE, Ariz. — White Sox manager Will Venable said it but he didn’t have to.
“Major league shortstop, you’ve got to be able to do a lot of things well,” Venable said. “So we’ll have high expectations for whoever’s there.”
For now, nine days from the start of the 2025 season, if Venable, general manager Chris Getz and farm director Paul Janish know who’s playing one of the most important positions on the field on Opening Day, they’re not saying.
It won’t be Colson Montgomery, the 2021 first-round draft choice whom they deemed not ready. It could be Chase Meidroth, who would be making his major league debut. Or Jacob Amaya, who, like Meidroth has found hits hard to come by of late. The expectation is for Montgomery to get his first shot when the weather warms up.
In the macro view of the Sox rebuild, the future looks somewhere between bright and uncertain, depending on where you look at the premium positions of shortstop, catcher and center field. The Sox look set behind the plate with prospects Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero ranked third and ninth, respectively, among catchers by MLB Pipeline and serving as motivation — not that he needs it — for incumbent Korey Lee.
Lee’s offense is a work in progress — he’s encouraged by results this spring (.400 with three doubles in 11 games) after making an adjustment at the plate — but his defense is better than the Sox’ previous No. 1, Yasmani Grandal, who was given one of the richest contracts (four years, $73 million) in franchise history in 2019.
A similar contract (although it could take more money) for Luis Robert Jr. could set the Sox up for years in center field, where Robert was an All-Star two years ago. He has one year at $15 million and $20 million club options for 2026 and ’27, but the Sox seem to be hoping Robert bounces back from an injury-marred, unproductive 2024 to heighten his market value before the trade deadline.
On the surface, shortstop looked to be well covered with Montgomery making his way to the majors, but more questions than answers remain about the 6-4 left-handed hitter who draws comps to Kyle Seager for the aforementioned physical traits.
Montgomery was deemed not ready for prime time just yet this week, when, to the surprise of many outside the organization, he was sent to minor league camp more than two weeks away from Opening Day. His .214/.329/.381 hitting line in his first year at Triple-A Charlotte doesn’t lie, and Getz and Janish want to see more of what Montgomery showed during an improved final month there last season.
Meanwhile, the questions about whether shortstop is where he would park it for a career won’t go away. At a position like shortstop, it’s best when there’s no question about whether you belong.
Meanwhile, Meidroth is getting the most time at shortstop this spring. Scouts say he’s better suited for second base, having a little less zip on throws that’s not needed for the routine plays but is called for on occasion for the tough ones.
Meidroth, who came with Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez in the December trade for Red Sox Opening Day starter Garrett Crochet, batted .297/.437/.401 with seven homers and 20 doubles in 120 games for Triple-A Worcester in 2024.
He’s 3-for-28 this spring with eight walks in 12 games and is leading off a lot because he works counts and has a career .425 on-base percentage in three minor league seasons.
Amaya has looked like the best defensive shortstop in camp but is 4-for-21 with four walks this spring after batting .176/.222/.413 in 68 at-bats last season.
“Gotta get the stick going,” Amaya said.
The Sox also like what they’ve seen from 20-year-old William Bergolla, acquired from the Phillies at last year’s trade deadline for left-hander Tanner Banks. Bergolla looks athletic and sure-handed in camp and is 6-for-11 with two doubles this spring.
“First of all, I didn’t know he was only 20 years old,” Venable said. “He plays like a more experienced guy. He just understands the game. He’s obviously very twitchy out there and a real good athlete. Going into these major league games has not sped him up at all. He’s very much under control. Just a really interesting player.”
Bergolla would be coming down the road, however. For now the competition is open, Venable said.
“There’s a lot of people that we’re still taking under consideration,” Venable said. “We’re going to just have to take it day by day and see how much clarity we get on it over the next few days.
“You have to factor everything. Whoever’s going to be out there is going to be someone that we have a high level of confidence in defensively, but also offensively and on the bases.”