Sam Antonacci is thriving in Charlotte to start the 2026 season, but at least for now, the Chicago White Sox appear content letting him develop a bit longer.
Tuesday night’s game between the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays already had plenty of intrigue.
The White Sox are calling up their top pitching prospect, 22-year-old Noah Schultz, to make his MLB debut. But over the weekend, there was also plenty of discussion about whether another White Sox prospect would be added to the mix.
Sam Antonacci has quickly become a fan favorite among devout White Sox fans. His 2025 season was leveraged into a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League, a good performance in spring training, and even some marquee moments for Team Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Now Antonacci is off to a strong start to the 2026 season in Triple-A after rising through the ranks and being named the No. 9 prospect in the White Sox organization over the offseason.
Multiple reports indicated that Antonacci would also be promoted from Charlotte on Tuesday to make his MLB debut, adding another layer of excitement for White Sox fans heading to the ballpark. In the days since, however, those rumors have cooled, and it now appears the White Sox will wait a bit longer before promoting Antonacci.
He was in the starting lineup playing the outfield for Charlotte in their Tuesday matinee game in Jacksonville. Antonacci finished 2-for-3 on the day with a hit-by-pitch, raising his batting average and OPS on the season to .313 and .979, respectively.
So while his MLB debut still feels imminent, White Sox fans will have to remain patient.
It’s possible the White Sox initially intended to promote Antonacci for Tuesday but have since changed course. It’s also possible the organization simply doesn’t feel he’s ready yet, given his limited experience at the Triple-A level and how few innings he’s logged in the outfield.
The White Sox’s current roster construction suggests Antonacci would likely slot into a corner outfield role once promoted in order to receive regular at-bats. And while fans are understandably eager to see him on the South Side, there’s no need for the organization to rush a decision like this.
Antonacci’s development should take priority above all else, and it wouldn’t hurt the 23-year-old to get a bit more experience in Charlotte, even if he already looks the part of a major leaguer.
I doubt it will be long now. Antonacci will likely get his well-deserved call-up by the end of the month, maybe even by the end of the week. But for now, Sox fans are left waiting on a prospect who looks poised to take Chicago by storm and quickly win over the fanbase.