Mark Reynolds' record lasted 17 years. Colson Montgomery took it from him Friday night in the fifth inning.
The Chicago White Sox
shortstop struck out for the 224th time this season. The record whiff came against Colorado right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano for the second out in the inning. That set a new single-season major league mark and broke his tie with Reynolds, who struck out 223 times for Arizona in 2009.Montgomery was called out on a 3-2, 93-mph fastball for the historic punchout.
Montgomery, 24, tied the record Thursday night in Kansas City on a called third strike from Royals reliever Anthony Gose. After the game he celebrated in the clubhouse with his teammates, not for the dubious record, but because the White Sox clinched their first playoff
berth since 2021. Chicago is the first team to reach the postseason after back-to-back 100-loss seasons.
Why the White Sox live with Colson Montgomery's strikeouts
Montgomery's strikeout Thursday also moved him past former White Sox slugger Adam Dunn, who set the American League record with 222 in 2012.
The White Sox have lived with the strikeouts because of what comes with them. Montgomery entered Friday with 31 home runs and 87 RBI to go with a .202 average.
September has tested the White Sox player's patience. Through Thursday he was hitting .111 this month, with 38 strikeouts and eight walks. Chicago manager Will Venable said the young shortstop hasn't let it get to him and added that the team is supporting him.
In his first full big-league season, Montgomery has said he knows he is still developing as a hitter.
He might not hold onto the infamous MLB record long
There is a race for the major-league record this season. Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber entered Friday with 218 strikeouts and three games left against Tampa Bay.
Reynolds told The Athletic in July that he wasn't rooting for anyone to catch him.
"I'm like 'No. How many big-league records do you have?'"Reynolds said.
Up next
The White Sox finish the regular season with two more games against Colorado before the playoffs begin.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colson Montgomery sets new MLB single-season strikeout record
