The South Side isn’t messing around with its prospects.
If last year was a youth wave, this year promises to bring a youth tsunami. On Wednesday, Springfield native Sam Antonacci was the third prospect of the 2026 season to be called up from Triple-A, immediately following the long-awaited arrival of Noah Schultz.
Antonacci’s breakout in the minors last year had everyone at SSS hoping and waiting for him to debut for the White Sox, and his time is now. After a brilliant cup of coffee at Low-A Kannapolis after the draft, Antonacci crushed it in his first and only full season of affiliate ball, in 2025. His .291/.433/.409 slash line and 48 stolen bases across Rookie, High-A and Double-A ball won him MiLB’s Southern League Player of the Week in June, a Southern Atlantic League All-Star nod in September and the very coveted SSS’s Minor League Player of the Week in July.
If not for a fella named Caleb Bonemer, Antonacci very like would have been our SSS Player of the Year in the minors.
Still, last year’s stats pale in comparison to his strong Triple-A start in 2026. After impressing in Spring Training and getting some international notice as a member of Italy’s surprising WBC squad, Antonacci reported to Triple-A and mashed: .313 with a towering .500 OBP and 15 walks, and a .341 BABIP — beware, pitchers! The patient Swiss Army knife of a player is also diversifying his glove work from the infield to now leaning heavily in left field, with 11 of his 14 games played coming there. The writing is clearly on the wall for Andrew Benintendi, but Will Venable will have his chance to play musical chairs with the lineup.
To make room for Antonacci, the White Sox designated outfielder Dustin Harris for assignment.
Between Antonacci’s composure at the plate and track record for being one of the most reliable hitters in the minor league system, he should be just the spark plug needed to keep this offense out of long, dry spells.
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