Like almost everyone else — besides the White Sox front office — Colson Montgomery didn’t expect to be cut two and a half weeks before Opening Day. So it hit the 23-year-old shortstop prospect in the gut Tuesday.

Montgomery struck out on a breaking ball from Gavin Williams and grounded out in two plate appearances. In the field, he was immediately tested with a pop fly in the sun. He also fielded a ground ball on his backhand and made a relatively simple tag when catcher Matt Thaiss threw out Lane Thomas attempting to steal. “Felt natural,” Montgomery said.