This rising White Sox prospect delivers consistent contact and surprising power, poised to make a significant impact on the South Side soon.
One of the biggest things for the Chicago White Sox this season is continuing to improve.
After a 19-win improvement from 2024 to 2025, growth is at the top of the White Sox’s list for the 2026 campaign. The youngsters have to keep growing. This season is obviously a good opportunity for many players to continue growing.
The White Sox will be looking for Colson Montgomery to be a more consistent all-around hitter. They are hoping Miguel Vargas blossoms into a star, and the team will be giving Luisangel Acuna consistent at-bats to showcase his potential.
However, there will also be prospects who are called up throughout the year that will make an impact for this White Sox team in 2026. Many of these prospects will have opportunities to make their mark in the league.
The one prospect that could make the biggest impact for South Siders this year is Sam Antonacci.
Antonacci has been really impressive since the White Sox selected him in the fifth round of the 2024 MLB Draft. He has posted solid numbers at Single-A, High-A, and Double-A over his two Minor League seasons.
In 2024, Antonacci hit .333 with six doubles, one triple, 14 RBI, 17 walks, and seven stolen bases across 81 at-bats at Single-A Kannapolis. Then, the 23-year-old finished with a .291 batting average with five home runs, 21 doubles, six triples, 57 RBI, and 48 stolen bases in 116 games last year.
Antonacci won’t contribute much power at the plate, but he’s an extremely high-contact hitter who doesn’t strike out much. As a matter of fact, the White Sox prospect has as many walks (86) as strikeouts (86) in his Minor League career.
He also showed some encouraging things in the World Baseball Classic while playing for Team Italy. Antonacci hit a towering 403-foot solo home run off Team USA Pitcher Nolan McLean in the pool play round.
His play during the World Baseball Classic caught the attention of general manager Chris Getz.
“He’s made a tremendous impression [with Team Italy], not surprised,” Getz told reporters in Arizona. “From the beginning when we signed him, the feedback we were getting from our player-development crew, his stops at different affiliates last year, this is a kid that can do a lot of different things to help a team win. I’m confident that the South Side is going to enjoy watching Sam Antonacci when the time comes.”
While Antonacci won’t begin the 2026 season up in the big leagues with the White Sox, he could be called up sometime this summer. When he gets his shot, he will showcase his offensive talent right away.
Antonacci has done well wherever he’s played in his professional career so far. Next, he’ll move to Triple-A Charlotte, and then hopefully join the White Sox sometime this summer.