After a torrid run through the Minors and the World Baseball Classic over the last two years, there wasn’t much for Sam Antonacci to prove on the farm. Now, Antonacci will get his first shot at Major League pitching. The young infielder was called up on April 15, just one day after Noah Schultz made his MLB debut.
A Look at Antonacci
It wasn’t long ago that the White Sox made Springfield-born infielder Sam Antonacci a fifth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina in 2024. Antonacci played for a CCU program that’s produced high-end talent, including current (Caden Bodine) and future (Cameron Flukey) first-rounders.
Antonacci made a strong impression in his introduction to pro ball back in 2024. He hit .333 over 23 games that season. However, he had an even stronger year in 2025, one where he was only slowed by injuries.
Spending most of his time between High-A and Double-A, Antonacci slashed .291/.433/.409 with five home runs, 32 extra-base hits, and 48 stolen bases. Additionally, he walked (69) almost as many times as he struck out (73). He also made up for lost time with a fantastic run in the Arizona Fall League. Antonacci posted a 1.048 OPS, and his 28 hits were tied for first alongside Charlie Condon.
Entering play on 4/15, Antonacci was sixth in the International League in walks (15). His slash line was .313/.500/.479 with two home runs over 14 games. And, he only struck out eight times.
To say that Antonacci’s bat-to-ball skills are impressive would be an understatement. Very quick bat, although the young infielder isn’t a big power hitter. However, make a mistake against him in the zone, and he can put a charge on one. He provided that in the Minors and the 2026 WBC.
That also makes Antonacci a very tricky hitter to work against. To show that, take a look at his swing-and-miss chart by zone in Charlotte before the promotion. No swing-and-miss on pitches away from him, more on the inner half. But overall, it’s very consistent contact across the board, showcasing that he can cover all quadrants of the zone.
Among Triple-A hitters with 50+ swings, Antonacci’s 16.9% Whiff% was good for the top-35 in the league. That figure was elevated slightly on four-seamers (18%). And outside of the zone, his 11.5% Chase% was third-best in Triple-A. Only Cooper Ingle and Wade Meckler had better percentages.
The White Sox formally selected Sam Antonacci’s contract on April 15.
Analysis
It certainly felt like this was going to happen at some point.
The White Sox cleared an avenue for him earlier in the week when Lenyn Sosa was traded to the Blue Jays. But, realistically, the former CCU standout didn’t have much to prove when looking at his numbers.
Yes, Antonacci was pushed fast — but he earned that right by performing well at every level and team since he was drafted by the Sox. Now, he joins Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas, Munetaka Murakami, and Chase Meidroth in the Chicago infield.
From a long-term view, the White Sox have the potential to field a healthy crop of young left-handed hitters. Colson Montgomery has shown flashes of being a middle-of-the-order stalwart thanks to his power. Antonacci, meanwhile, could be a future leadoff hitter thanks to his ability to get on base, either with the bat or eye.
Now, the questions turn to A) how will Antonacci handle big-league pitching, and B) how else can the White Sox fill out the future of the offense?
Check out more of our MLB coverage.