Through the first 10 games of Cactus League play, Edgar Quero, Sam Antonacci, Tanner Murray, and Grant Taylor have separated themselves from the pack — flashing development, power, and upside that could shape the White Sox’ 2026 roster decisions.
We’re now more than 25 percent of the way through 2026 spring training. The Chicago White Sox opened Cactus League play over a week ago, and there are now just three weeks remaining before the club packs up and heads to Milwaukee for Opening Day.
We’ve also reached the point in the spring schedule when teams begin losing players to the World Baseball Classic — an opportunity for some of the game’s best to represent their countries and compete on a global stage.
That, of course, creates opportunity for those who remain in camp.
Up to this point, the White Sox have had their share of both disappointments and standouts. But as we turn the calendar to March, I want to focus on the players who have exceeded expectations and impressed through the first 10 games of spring training.
Edgar Quero
Edgar Quero has appeared in four games for Chicago, and all he has done is hit.
He’s 7-for-13 with two doubles and a team-leading eight RBIs — good for a .538 batting average and a 1.264 OPS.
Quero spent the offseason working with Driveline to improve his bat speed and optimize his launch angles in an effort to unlock more power in 2026. We already know he possesses an advanced understanding of the strike zone and strong bat-to-ball skills. The one piece missing from his offensive profile has been consistent slugging ability — the capacity to truly impact the game as a run producer.
While he hasn’t homered yet this spring, his situational hitting and .692 slugging percentage are reasons to be extremely bullish about what he’s capable of this season.
And it’s easy to forget: Quero is still just 22 years old.
Sam Antonacci
The next easy choice is infield prospect Sam Antonacci, who has played in six games this spring and is 4-for-13 with two home runs. He also leads the team with seven runs scored, owns a .500 on-base percentage, and carries a 1.346 OPS.
By the end of 2025, Antonacci had risen to No. 11 in the White Sox organization according to MLB Pipeline. That ranking came after a season in which he played at three different levels, finishing with an extended run at Double-A Birmingham.
Across 116 minor league games, Antonacci posted a .291 batting average, 21 doubles, 48 stolen bases, and an .842 OPS.
Throughout both his college and professional career, Antonacci has consistently performed at every level. The one tool that seemed underdeveloped was power.
He slugged just .381 in Birmingham last season, and combined with the fact that he was a fifth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina, he’s often been overlooked in prospect conversations.
But what he’s shown this spring suggests that his power is still developing — and that there is legitimate pop in his bat.
The two home runs are one thing; anyone can run into a ball under the Arizona sun. What stands out more is the quality of contact. Antonacci registered exit velocities of 107 mph and 109.5 mph on those blasts.
Antonacci has more than held his own in big league camp and has looked like one of the most dangerous bats in the White Sox lineup. He’s showing tangible signs of growth in the one area that once limited his ceiling.
At this rate, it’s hard to imagine the White Sox keeping Antonacci in the minor leagues much longer. He’s forcing the issue. Whether his future is at second base or in a corner outfield role, he’s making a compelling case to join the organization’s young core sooner rather than later.
Tanner Murray
Tanner Murray is the only other White Sox player with multiple home runs this spring.
He’s 4-for-11 with two doubles, two home runs, five RBIs, a team-leading 12 total bases, and a 1.552 OPS entering Sunday.
Unlike Antonacci, Murray isn’t a top prospect. He’s 26 years old and was acquired this offseason in the same trade that brought outfielder Everson Pereira over from the Tampa Bay Rays.
Murray has remained on the 40-man roster all winter and offers defensive versatility the White Sox value. His OPS was an even .700 at Triple-A last season, and he has yet to make his MLB debut. But his defensive flexibility stands out.
In 2025 alone, Murray saw time at second base, third base, shortstop, left field, center field, and right field. He has also logged innings at first base during his minor league career.
Pair that versatility with a strong offensive spring, and you have a player who commands attention.
It’s still unclear what Murray’s role would be if he cracked the Opening Day roster. The path isn’t obvious. But at minimum, he has put himself firmly on the radar. If the White Sox depth is tested early in the regular season, he feels like one of the first players they would turn to.
Grant Taylor
Grant Taylor has been a popular breakout candidate among White Sox fans and national evaluators all winter.
His 4.91 ERA in 2025 did not accurately reflect the quality of his stuff. His expected ERA was 2.91, and he ranked among the elite in expected batting average, whiff rate, strikeout rate, barrel rate, and ground-ball rate.
When you put all of that together, it’s difficult not to see the makings of a potentially dominant relief arm.
That appears to be exactly what the White Sox envision for him in 2026. The organization believes his 13.3 strikeouts per nine innings from last season will translate, especially as he transitions into a multi-inning bullpen role. The expectation is that the ERA will follow.
So far, Taylor has lived up to the hype.
In two appearances, he has thrown two clean innings out of the bullpen, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out three — good for a 13.5 strikeouts-per-nine rate.
He opened camp sitting around 100 mph with his fastball, a pitch with explosive cut-ride action. He pairs it with a downer curveball, an above-average sinker, and a wipeout slider — an arsenal that earned a 114 Stuff+ rating.
Against the Rockies on February 23, Taylor generated a 71.4 percent chase rate and threw 83 percent strikes. If he continues to command the baseball at that level, he will be extremely difficult to square up.
2026 feels like the season Taylor becomes a household name — one of the most dangerous relief arms in baseball.
It could even position him for a transition back into a starting role in 2027.
Of these four early spring standouts, only Antonacci will depart for the World Baseball Classic, where he will represent Team Italy.
Meanwhile, the White Sox will continue building toward the regular season, looking to build on a strong start to Cactus League play. Their +19 run differential is tied for the best in Arizona — an early but encouraging sign as Opening Day approaches.