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.
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
The New York Yankees lead the pack by a wide margin with 27 World Series titles, the most championships in major American professional sports. They’re followed by the St. Louis Cardinals, who have won the Fall Classic 11 times, while the back-to-back champion Los Angeles Dodgers have catapulted into the No. 3 spot with their ninth championship − and third in the last five years − in 2025. Also tied for third-most World Series are the Boston Red Sox and the Athletics. The A’s former neighbors across the Bay, the San Francisco Giants, are fourth (eight championships). The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates round out the top five with five titles apiece. Here’s a complete ranking of every MLB club by World Series titles:
(Bettmann, Bettmann Archive via Getty Images)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
The New York Yankees lead the pack by a wide margin with 27 World Series titles, the most championships in major American professional sports. They’re followed by the St. Louis Cardinals, who have won the Fall Classic 11 times, while the back-to-back champion Los Angeles Dodgers have catapulted into the No. 3 spot with their ninth championship − and third in the last five years − in 2025. Also tied for third-most World Series are the Boston Red Sox and the Athletics. The A’s former neighbors across the Bay, the San Francisco Giants, are fourth (eight championships). The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates round out the top five with five titles apiece. Here’s a complete ranking of every MLB club by World Series titles:
(Bettmann, Bettmann Archive via Getty Images)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Atlanta Braves – 4 titles (1914, 1957, 1995, 2021)
(CHRIS WILKINS, AFP via Getty Images)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Detroit Tigers – 4 titles (1935, 1945, 1968, 1984)
(Mary Schroeder, Detroit Free Press via USA TODAY Network)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Baltimore Orioles – 3 titles (1966, 1970, 1983)
(PORTER BINKS, USA TODAY)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Chicago Cubs – 3 titles (1907, 1908, 2016)
(Ezra Shaw, Getty Images)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Chicago White Sox – 3 titles (1906, 1917, 2005)
(Eileen Blass, USA TODAY)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Minnesota Twins – 3 titles (1924, 1987, 1991)
(ROBERT DEUTSCH, USA TODAY)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Cleveland Guardians – 2 titles (1920, 1948)
(Bettmann Archive via Getty Images)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Houston Astros – 2 titles (2017, 2022)
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Kansas City Royals – 2 titles (1985, 2015)
(ROBERT DEUTSCH, USA TODAY)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Miami Marlins – 2 titles (1997, 2003)
(H. DARR BEISER, USA TODAY)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
New York Mets – 2 titles (1969, 1986)
(Bettmann Archive via Getty Images)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Philadelphia Phillies – 2 titles (1980, 2008)
(H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Toronto Blue Jays – 2 titles (1992, 1993)
(Rick Stewart, Getty Images)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Arizona Diamondbacks – 1 title (2001)
(JACK GRUBER, USA TODAY)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Los Angeles Angels – 1 title (2002)
(ROBERT DEUTSCH, USA TODAY)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Texas Rangers – 1 title (2023)
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Washington Nationals – 1 title (2019)
(Erik Williams, Imagn Images)
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
