After a strong start at Triple-A Charlotte, versatile prospect Sam Antonacci earns his call-up and is expected to make his MLB debut for the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.
Chicago White Sox prospect Sam Antonacci is officially headed to the big leagues.
The White Sox called him up ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, announcing the move via a release on social media.
There had been plenty of speculation that Antonacci could make his debut alongside Noah Schultz on Tuesday night. Instead, the White Sox pushed that timeline back by just one day, and now Antonacci arrives in Chicago for what will be another highly anticipated debut on Wednesday evening.
According to MLB Pipeline, Antonacci is currently the No. 9-ranked prospect in the organization. He began the 2026 season at the Triple-A level and has made an immediate impact, hitting .313 with a .979 OPS through 14 games in Charlotte.
The 23-year-old has hit at every level throughout his career, dating back to his college days. But it wasn’t until this offseason that he truly started to gain national attention, thanks to a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League and a series of highlight plays for Team Italy during the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
In spring training with the White Sox, Antonacci hit .368 with two home runs and a 1.327 OPS. It quickly became clear that it was only a matter of time before he earned regular at-bats at the MLB level. In preparation for that opportunity, the White Sox gave him reps in the outfield at Charlotte.
Antonacci started 11 games in left field, logging 100 innings before earning his call-up. Now that he’s in the big leagues, expect to see him in the outfield on a regular basis with occasional rotations to the infield to fill in for Colson Montgomery or Chase Meidroth when needed.
The long-term outlook of the White Sox outfield remains uncertain. The current group at the MLB level has struggled, and outside of top prospect Braden Montgomery, there isn’t much help on the way in terms of natural outfielders. That gives Antonacci a clear opportunity in 2026. If he continues producing the way he has in the minor leagues, he’ll not only remain a fan favorite on the South Side, but also carve out a role in the team’s future plans.
I expect Antonacci to be in the lineup for the White Sox on Wednesday night in Chicago, and to remain a regular in the starting lineup moving forward as the organization looks to reshape an underwhelming roster with an infusion of young talent.