White Sox lose 6th straight, 7-2 to Cardinals on June 19. As the team's record hits 23-51, the demotion of Colson Montgomery signals a tough rebuild reality.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Another night at the Rate, another tally in the loss column. The Chicago White Sox fell 7-2 to the St. Louis Cardinals, stretching their current losing streak to a painful six games. But the most significant development on Thursday didn't happen on the field in Chicago; it happened on the transaction wire, as former top prospect Colson Montgomery was sent back to the Arizona Complex League for a full-scale reset, a move that speaks volumes about the bumpy, non-linear path of this rebuild.
The White Sox made a notable roster move, sending former top prospect Colson Montgomery back to the Arizona complex for a reset.
The script for the game felt painfully familiar. Starter Shane Smith, himself a key part of the youth movement, battled but couldn't contain the Cardinals' offense, surrendering five runs over 4.2 innings. A two-run homer by Lars Nootbaar and a back-breaking, bases-clearing double from Nolan Gorman provided St. Louis with all the cushion they'd need. The Sox offense sputtered against Miles Mikolas, managing just a lone RBI single from Chase Meidroth, who continues to be a bright spot with a 2-for-4 night. Despite the bullpen keeping things from getting completely out of hand, the 23-51 record tells the story of a team still learning how to win.
The bigger headline for the future of the franchise was the demotion of Colson Montgomery. After a very tough first month at Triple-A Charlotte, the organization decided a complete change of scenery and a return to fundamentals was in order. This isn't a panic move; it's a developmental one. For a team whose entire future hinges on prospects panning out, admitting a top player needs to take a step back to hopefully take two forward is a crucial, if difficult, decision. It's a stark reminder that development is never a straight line, and it puts even more focus on the players who are succeeding, like Chase Meidroth at the big-league level.
The Montgomery news comes amidst a challenging backdrop for the farm system, particularly on the pitching side. The organization has been decimated by injuries, with four Top 30 prospects, including 2024 Dylan Cease trade centerpiece Drew Thorpe, now slated for Tommy John surgery. That's a massive blow to the future rotation. However, it's not all doom and gloom. Braden Montgomery is thriving at Class A, and the continued presence of guys like Smith and Meidroth in Chicago shows that the pipeline is producing. The team is undeniably more competitive and energetic under manager Will Venable than last year's squad, even if the results aren't there yet.
As the losses mount, it's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. But Thursday was a microcosm of the 2025 White Sox experience: a tough loss on the field, a difficult but necessary developmental decision off it, and a mix of hope and frustration bubbling up from the minor leagues. The path forward is long and filled with more days like this. The key will be whether these resets, both for individual players and the organization as a whole, ultimately lead to a stronger foundation for the future.
