Former Madison Central High School star Braden Montgomery did not disappoint in his big league debut.
Montgomery was called up by the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, and that same day, he was heralded as a hero by the MLB club for hitting a two-run bomb to earn a 6-5 win over the Atlanta Braves in extra innings.
First career home run for Braden Montgomery is a WALK-OFF! pic.twitter.com/Lbmir3Vhz2
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 10, 2026
The long ball was Montgomery’s second hit of the game. In the bottom of the fourth inning, he singled to left field, sending none other than former Ole Miss standout Jacob Gonzalez to home plate. Montgomery tallied two hits, the game-winning home run, and three RBI in his inaugural MLB appearance as a player. Gonzalez notably had two hits and an RBI in the contest as well.
Montgomery, a switch-hitting outfielder, spent his prep days at Madison Central before beginning his collegiate career at Stanford, where he played for two seasons before transferring to Texas A&M. He was drafted 12th overall in the first round by the Red Sox in 2024, but was traded to the White Sox in December of that year in a deal that sent Ocean Springs native Garrett Crochet to Boston.
2026 was the breakout year for Montgomery in the minors, with him shining as a member of the Triple-A Charlotte Knights before being called up. Ahead of his big league debut, the outfielder was batting .314 with 66 hits, 10 home runs, 41 RBI, five stolen bases, and a.970 OPS.