White Sox Shortstop Has Message For Fans: ‘Those Days Are Probably Over'

The Chicago White Sox took two of three games from the Los Angeles Dodgers at Rate Field over the weekend, a strong assertion of their early-season results.

Through June 14, Chicago (38-32) is tied with the Cleveland Guardians (39-33) for first place in the American League Central. They are the only team in the division with a positive run differential (plus-12) in 2026.

More news:Why MLB is The Last League That Needs a Salary Cap

A 6-4 victory over the Dodgers, the two-time defending World Series champions, put a bow on their three-game interleague series before a sold-out crowd. Few expected the White Sox to be in first place as the All-Star break approaches, but they show no signs of going away.

“‘They should stop looking at us as a surprise,” White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery told reporters, including Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, after the game. “We are consistently winning and we are consistently in games. Doesn't matter to us what team is out there, we are going to play our ball. Those days are probably over.”

In 2024, the year before Montgomery debuted, the White Sox went 41-121 to set a modern record for losses in a season. The turnaround came as the team turned to its younger players like Montgomery, Miguel Vargas, Shane Smith and Edgar Quero.

Montgomery, a 24-year-old shortstop, hit 21 home runs as a rookie last year, and finished fifth in AL Rookie of the Year voting. The youth movement has accelerated this season, and Chicago keeps winning.

More news:Blue Jays Outfielder Injured When Fan Throws Baseball on Field

Since he wasn’t around for it, Montgomery must be forgiven for not being able to relate to fans who aren’t quick to forget the worst season in franchise history. Teams who lose 121 games, and finish last in their division in back-to-back seasons, aren’t supposed to be this good this fast.

While MLB owners believe a salary cap is necessary to impose competitive balance on the league, the White Sox are offering a counterpoint. Through shrewd drafting, development, player acquisition - and patience - they have cobbled together a winning team from the ashes of misery.

For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published June 14, 2026 at 7:34 PM.