White Sox's Montgomery Sets Single-Season Strikeout Record with 227

Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery set a major league single-season record with 227 strikeouts in 2026, surpassing Mark Reynolds' 2009 mark of 223. Despite the unwanted record, Montgomery finished with 31 home runs and 87 RBIs while helping the White Sox clinch a playoff berth.

Quick Facts

Set major league single-season strikeout record
Tied Reynolds' record at 223 strikeouts
Broke record with 224th strikeout
Finished season with 227 strikeouts
White Sox clinched playoff berth

Colson Montgomery of the Chicago White Sox set a major league single-season strikeout record with 227 strikeouts in his second season, surpassing Mark Reynolds' previous mark of 223 set in 2009. The 24-year-old shortstop reached 227 strikeouts across 568 at-bats and 638 plate appearances during the 2026 regular season, which concluded with the White Sox clinching a playoff berth after consecutive 100-loss seasons.

Montgomery first tied Reynolds' record on Thursday in Kansas City with his 223rd strikeout in the third inning, then broke it Friday night against Colorado with his 224th, striking out on a 3-2 count looking at a 93.3 mph fastball. He added three more strikeouts over the weekend to finish at 227. Despite the record, Montgomery emphasized focusing on the positives of his overall performance, which included 31 home runs and 87 RBIs while batting .197 for the season.

The shortstop acknowledged the unwanted association with the strikeout record but framed it within the context of his team's postseason qualification and his own offensive contributions. "It's definitely something you don't want your name to be a part of," Montgomery said. "But at the end of the day, you can't be looking so much at the negative stuff." He noted that other prolific strikeout leaders on the all-time list, including Reynolds, also accumulated significant home run totals, positioning strikeouts as a byproduct of aggressive power-hitting approaches.

Montgomery's final stretch proved difficult, with a 6-for-77 slide in the season's final weeks and a .163 average with 106 strikeouts over 62 games since the All-Star break. However, White Sox manager Will Venable expressed confidence in Montgomery heading into the Wild Card Series, noting his mental resilience and overall impact on the team's playoff qualification. Montgomery prepared for the postseason reset with the mindset that past performance "goes back to zero" once playoff play begins, with the White Sox set to face Houston in a best-of-three Wild Card Series.

Topics

Sports

#Wild Card Series #single-season record #strikeout record #Mark Reynolds #playoffs #baseball #White Sox #2026 season #MLB #Colson Montgomery

Entities

Why This Matters

Montgomery's record reflects a measurable shift in modern baseball hitting patterns: strikeouts increased as hitters pursue power, with top sluggers often accumulating high strikeout totals. The White Sox's playoff qualification despite consecutive 100-loss seasons signals organizational turnaround affecting franchise financial performance, media interest, and fan engagement. Montgomery's postseason performance will test whether strikeout-heavy power hitters can succeed in compressed playoff series, with direct impact on Chicago's playoff revenue and Wild Card Series outcome against Houston.

Timeline & Sources

Sep 24, 2026

Wire

Montgomery ties Mark Reynolds' single-season strikeout record with 223rd strikeout in third inning vs. Kansas City

Sep 24, 2026

Wire

White Sox clinch playoff berth with 9-1 win at Kansas City

Sep 29, 2026

Wire

Montgomery comments on strikeout record, emphasizing focus on positives and playoff reset

Sep 30, 2026

Wire

White Sox regular season ends; Wild Card Series begins Tuesday in Houston