White Sox’s 2026 Spring Training NRI Include Montgomery, Smith

The White Sox were one of several teams to expand their list of announced non-roster invite players for 2026 Spring Training on January 29. Over a dozen Chicago prospects were invited to big league camp, including Braden Montgomery, Sam Antonacci, Hagen Smith, and Noah Schultz.

The prospects

Outfielder Braden Montgomery will try to make a strong impression after what was a good 2025 season. Montgomery slashed .270/.364/.416 with 12 home runs, 14 stolen bases, and 50 total extra-base hits across 121 games in three different levels. He capped out at Double-A.

The 22-year-old outfielder, as we noted in our 2025 White Sox farm recap, had a lot of swing-and-miss troubles. However, the tools package is there, between the power, the arm that he showcased both in the field and on the mound in college, and a BB% above 10% last season.

Montgomery won’t be the only 2024 MLB Draft pick with the big club. Infielder Sam Antonacci, a fifth-round pick by Chicago (AL) out of Coastal Carolina, will look to continue the momentum after he slashed .378/.505/.541 with an Arizona Fall League-high 28 hits in the fall circuit.

One could argue that the Arizona Fall League was the cherry on top for Antonacci, who already had his breakout before then. The 22-year-old was one of the best contact hitters in the South Atlantic League last season, and then slashed .292/.435/.381 across 49 contests with Birmingham.

His numbers in Double-A were remarkable. Antonacci posted the highest LD% (34%) in the Southern League (min. 100 batted-ball events), a take rate over 60%, and one of the lowest swing-and-miss rates (18.2%) in that league.

Fellow infielder William Bergolla, who had the lowest swing-and-miss rate (6.4%), will also be in camp.

Former first-round pick Jacob Gonzalez, catcher Michael Turner, and outfielder Dru Baker will join that group of hitters listed above.

As for the pitchers, the two notables are Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz, both left-handers and both former first-round picks.

Smith, a formidable lefty who was one of the best swing-and-miss pitchers in Double-A last season, struck out 21 over 14 innings in the AFL to cap off a good, yet injury-riddled 2025 season.

Schultz is a tall, 6’10” left-hander who averaged over a strikeout per inning in Double-A last season. However, the walks ticked up last year compared to 2024. The 22-year-old allowed 36 walks over 56.2 IP with Birmingham last season, juxtaposed to 17 over 61 with the Barons in 2024.

He was also hit hard in a short sample size with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights. Schultz gave up three home runs and 17 earned runs over 16.1 IP.

Shane Murphy, who posted a 1.38 ERA in 20 outings with Double-A, will also be among the pitchers. Mason Adams, Tyler Davis, Tyler Schweitzer, Zach Franklin, and Ben Peoples will join Murphy.

Other notables

Former Giant LaMonte Wade Jr. will be in camp with the White Sox. Wade Jr., who officially signed a Minor League deal on January 29, was a good platoon player with the Giants for several seasons. His best season came in 2021 when he hit 18 home runs and slashed .268/.341/.518 with 18 home runs versus right-handed pitchers.

Additionally, Tim Elko and Oliver Dunn will be in Arizona. Elko received 72 plate appearances with the White Sox last season, while Dunn spent the last two seasons with the Brewers.

Outfielders Dustin Harris and Jarred Kelenic round out the group of ex-Major League hitters.

Ryan Borucki and Tyson Miller, two relievers with MLB experience, are also among the non-roster invitees.