Chicago White Sox Make Smart Decision Rising Fan-Favorite Prospect
Rising White Sox infield prospect Sam Antonacci will begin getting outfield reps in Triple-A this season, giving him a clearer path to the big leagues in 2026.
Real diehard Chicago White Sox fans have known about infield prospect Sam Antonacci for quite some time now. His 2025 season was a marvel to watch unfold, as the former fifth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina simply continued to hit and produce at every level the White Sox challenged him with. From High-A Winston-Salem to Double-A Birmingham, and even in the Arizona Fall League, Antonacci showcased elite bat-to-ball skills, advanced baserunning instincts, plus speed, and even flashes of developing power.
It all added up to one of the fastest rises in the White Sox system—and arguably across all of minor league baseball. But it wasn’t until the 2026 World Baseball Classic that Antonacci truly started to gain widespread recognition. Team Italy made an unexpected run, and Antonacci felt like he was in the middle of everything.
He made plays seemingly every night, and his home run against Team USA turned heads on a national stage. From there, his name began popping up more regularly across Chicago sports media as fans and analysts alike started to look ahead to what his future might hold on the South Side. Entering the 2026 season, Antonacci ranks as the No.
9 prospect in the White Sox organization, according to MLB Pipeline. And there’s a growing belief among fans that a big league call-up could come sooner rather than later. While he didn’t make the team out of spring training, Antonacci will begin the year in Triple-A Charlotte.