Braden Montgomery Promoted as Knights and Barons Win Thrilling Games

In a significant development for the Chicago White Sox organization, Braden Montgomery, the top prospect for the South Side Sox, is making the leap to Triple-A Charlotte Knights after what is likely his final appearance in Double-A. Montgomery has been a standout performer in 2026, boasting an impressive .313 batting average, .429 on-base percentage, and .606 slugging percentage, along with six home runs, a remarkable improvement from his 12 homers last season. After debuting in the minors at Kannapolis in 2025, Montgomery has rapidly ascended through the ranks, making an impression during Spring Training that left many surprised when he began the season with Birmingham. Now, with his promotion to Charlotte, anticipation builds for his eventual debut with the White Sox later this year.

The Knights faced off against the Gwinnett Stripers, ultimately claiming a thrilling 10-9 walk-off victory to split the series. Charlotte’s pitching struggled at times, particularly left-hander Hagen Smith, who loaded the bases in the first inning and allowed a two-run single, giving Gwinnett an early advantage. However, Smith regained his composure to finish strong, striking out three and maintaining a sub-3.00 ERA at 2.82 after seven starts.

The Knights’ bullpen also faced challenges, with every reliever allowing at least one run, including Jonathan Cannon, who struggled with a bloated 11.85 ERA. Despite this, the Knights found their rhythm offensively, taking the lead in the second inning with RBI doubles from Josh Breaux and Jacob Gonzalez, who enjoyed a three-hit game.

As the game progressed, it was Korey Lee who emerged as the hero. After joining Gonzalez in the three-hit club, Lee launched a solo homer in the eighth inning to give Charlotte a brief 9-8 lead. However, the tie was restored when Zach Franklin surrendered a solo shot to Rowdy Tellez in the ninth. But in a dramatic finish, Lee delivered the game-winning hit with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth, sealing the victory and saving Franklin’s outing.

Meanwhile, the Birmingham Barons mirrored the Knights’ score with a nail-biting 10-9 win over the Chattanooga Lookouts, marking their third consecutive victory. Connor McCullough pitched a strong four innings, limiting Chattanooga to just three hits and one walk. However, the Barons’ bullpen faltered in the sixth, allowing a six-run inning that briefly put the Lookouts ahead. Despite the struggles, Birmingham’s offense exploded for five runs in the seventh, with Wilfred Veras hitting a three-run homer and Jacob Burke contributing three hits for the second consecutive game.

In a closely contested matchup, the Winston-Salem Dash fell to the Greensboro Grasshoppers 8-6, plagued by defensive errors that resulted in three unearned runs. The Dash were out-hit 12-9, with righthander Jake Curtis taking the loss despite striking out six. The team struggled with runners in scoring position, converting only 2-for-15 opportunities, while Caleb Bonemer reached base four times but continues to battle defensive inconsistencies.

Finally, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers secured a 7-6 victory over the Augusta GreenJackets, fueled by an early four-run first inning. Though the bullpen faced some challenges, including three home runs, the Cannon Ballers managed to hold on for the win, led by a standout performance from Javier Mogollón, who went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two stolen bases. With this victory, Kannapolis has finally reached double-digit wins, marking a crucial turning point in their season.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.