Braden Montgomery hits walk-off homer in MLB debut as White Sox beat Braves
Chicago White Sox rookie Braden Montgomery hit a two-run walk-off home run in the 10th inning of his MLB debut on June 9, 2026, lifting Chicago to a 6-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Montgomery, 23, came to the White Sox as part of the Garrett Crochet trade with Boston and had posted a .314/.422/.548 line across Double-A and Triple-A this season. The feat made him just the fifth player since 1900 to hit a walk-off home run in his major league debut, capping one of the most dramatic first games in recent memory.
Braden Montgomery made an unforgettable MLB debut on June 9, 2026, at Rate Field in Chicago, crushing a second-pitch changeup from Braves closer Raisel Iglesias over the left field wall with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the White Sox a 6-5 win over Atlanta. Montgomery, who had already recorded an RBI single in the fourth inning, finished the night with two hits and three RBIs. The home run made him only the fifth player since 1900 to hit a walk-off homer in his big league debut, according to ESPN. Adding to the occasion, legendary broadcaster Bob Costas was on play-by-play for the Chicago Sports Network as part of a throwback broadcast, calling the shot live. Montgomery was acquired by Chicago along with Kyle Teel, Chase Meidroth, and Wikelman Gonzalez in the trade that sent ace Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox before the 2025 season. The debut came amid a broader White Sox resurgence: Chicago entered the game near the top of the AL Central, having gone from 41-121 in 2024 to a competitive 35-31 record in 2026. Montgomery joins shortstop Colson Montgomery — no relation — in what has quickly become one of the more intriguing young lineup combinations in the American League.
How coverage differed
The New York Post and Fox News both focused tightly on the drama of the debut itself, while Forbes provided broader roster and organizational context, including Montgomery's minor league statistics, draft history, and the White Sox's overall competitive trajectory. Fox News was notably more effusive in framing the White Sox's rebuild as a model success story.
What different sources said
- New York PostRight
White Sox Braden Montgomery hits walk-off homer in MLB debut — with Bob Costas on the call
- Fox NewsRight
White Sox rookie Braden Montgomery becomes fifth player ever to hit walk-off homer in his Major League debut
- ForbesCenter
Chicago White Sox Keep Rolling With Their 2 Montgomery Lineup
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