Amid a White Sox season that has turned plenty of heads, Sam Antonacci has made his own kind of noise. The rookie left fielder has become the kind of player coaches point to when they want an example of effort, and MLB’s annual Heart and Hustle awards made that official on Friday.
Antonacci was Chicago’s choice, and it wasn’t much of a surprise. He’s been running hard, taking chances, and giving the White Sox the sort of energy Will Venable and Chris Getz want to see, even when those extra gears haven’t always paid off. He’s been caught stealing six times and has been thrown out at the plate more times than you want, but the effort has never been in question.
The award puts Antonacci in some select company. He was the only rookie in the American League to win it, and one of just three rookies across MLB honored this year, alongside St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt and New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge.
For a fifth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina University in 2024, the rise has been fast. After moving quickly through the minors, Antonacci reached the majors early in the 2026 season and has settled in as one of Chicago’s better hitters. In 94 games, he’s hitting .278/.366/.410, with the kind of on-base skill and growing power that have made him a real presence near the top of the lineup.
The power has shown up more lately, too. Antonacci didn’t put one over the fence through his first couple of months, though he did have an inside-the-park home run earlier in the year. Since June 14, he’s added seven home runs, along with 14 stolen bases and the ability to keep the line moving.
His work in left field has also played a part in the recognition. Antonacci hadn’t even played the outfield before this season, and while Baseball Savant has him at -5 Outs Above Average, he has handled the transition well enough for someone learning the position on the fly.
He may not bring elite raw tools - his sprint speed sits in the 74th percentile and his hard-hit rate in the 29th - but he makes contact, avoids strikeouts, and plays with a style that shows up in the box score and beyond it. For the White Sox, that’s been worth celebrating, and it’s hard to argue with the results.
In Other News...
White Sox Made A Telling Cut From The Garrett Crochet Trade
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Gonzlezs spot in that picture had already been shaky after arriving from Boston in the Garrett Crochet trade, a move that was supposed to help define part of the White Soxs next wave. Injuries and uneven performance have made that path harder to follow, and his latest reset suggests Chicago sees the trades return as leaning heavily toward other arms instead, even if the full answer on what the deal ultimately becomes is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Outfield Debate Just Got Even Harder To Ignore
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Brenton Doyles arrival only added another layer to the puzzle, because the club now has to decide how much playing time belongs to whom and where the clearest fit actually is. With multiple outfielders contributing and the roster continuing to evolve, the immediate question is less about whether Chicago has options and more about which combination finally gives the White Sox something closer to a settled plan. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Prospects Are Starting To Separate Themselves Early
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Weingartners profile is especially interesting because the physical tools are obvious, and so is the challenge of turning them into dependable production in center field. Cholowsky also continues to be part of the conversation as the White Sox sort through a crowded group of young players trying to separate themselves from the pack. For a farm system that needs impact talent to keep rising, these early snapshots matter because they can hint at who is starting to pull ahead and who still has to prove it. [Read more 🡒]