Overview
- Montgomery struck out for his 223rd time in the third inning of the White Sox’s Sept. 24 win in Kansas City to match Mark Reynolds’ 2009 single-season mark.
- He reached the total in 627 plate appearances, fewer than Reynolds’ 662, and was replaced by a pinch hitter in the ninth so he finished the game tied rather than breaking the record.
- The 24-year-old has produced significant power this season with 31 home runs and 87 RBIs despite a low batting average, illustrating the modern three-true-outcomes hitter profile.
- Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber and a few other players remained close enough late in the season to overtake or share the record, and Montgomery still had three regular-season games left to try to set a new mark.
- The single-season strikeout leaderboard has been dominated by recent seasons, showing a league-wide shift toward higher strikeout totals as teams value home runs and walks more than contact.