White Sox SS Colson Montgomery ties MLB single-season strikeout record that has stood for 17 years

On Thursday, as the White Sox clinched their first playoff berth in five seasons , the Chicago shortstop made a little bit of history with one of MLB's least-desired records.

With a strikeout in the White Sox's 9-1 win over the Kansas City Royals , Colson Montgomery tied MLB's record for the most strikeouts in a single season — a record that had stood for 17 years. Montgomery now has 223 strikeouts this season, with three games remaining before Chicago heads to the postseason.

Montgomery struck out in the third inning of Thursday's game, with reliever Anthony Gose dispatching him during his third at-bat after the White Sox got off to a hot start. The 24-year-old shortstop went 0-4, flying out three times in addition to his historic strikeout.

Luisangel Acuña pinch hit for Montgomery in his final at-bat in the ninth, temporarily ending Montgomery's chances of breaking the dubious mark.

The original record, set by former Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Mark Reynolds in 2009, seemed likely to be broken this season thanks to a surge of high-strikeout hitters. Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber is just five strikeouts behind the mark, while Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto is at 209 strikeouts.

But Montgomery has surged ahead to tie the strikeout title in a sort of come-from-behind win, thanks in part to a late cluster of strikeouts over the last few months. In September alone, Montgomery has had seven games with at least three strikeouts. He has six four-strikeout games stretching across the season.

Even with the high number of strikeouts, Montgomery's hitting hasn't been completely atrocious: Though his batting average (.202) and on-base percentage (.288) have been low, his slugging percentage (.418) and OPS (.701) are near-league average. He has 31 home runs, 112 hits and 87 RBIs.

Multiple players have come close to Reynolds' record over the years, but none have matched the former infielder's mark before this season. Reynolds told The Athletic in July that he used to see the stat as "embarrassing," but now views it as a "badge of honor."

"Now, I'm older. Have perspective. People ask me, 'Do you want someone to break it?' I'm like, 'No. How many big-league records do you have?'" Reynolds said at the time.

In the same interview, Reynolds joked that he might have to hand off the strikeout honor to whoever breaks the record on "SportsCenter." But there's still a nonzero chance that multiple players will pass him, with Schwarber coming around the corner with four games remaining.

For now, though, Montgomery can claim sole ownership of a place in the record books, for better or for worse.