Just a year ago, Sam Antonacci was a name even die-hard White Sox fans might’ve had to Google. Drafted in the fifth round, Antonacci got a brief taste of pro ball with a 23-game stint at Low-A Kannapolis to close out his debut season.
He showed flashes, but it was too small a sample to generate much buzz. Fast forward to now, and the infield prospect has kicked the door down on prospect rankings - earning national recognition and a spot on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 Second Base Prospects list for 2026.
Antonacci’s rise isn’t just about numbers - though the numbers are impressive - it’s about the way he’s controlling at-bats and forcing the baseball world to take notice. He opened 2025 with High-A Winston-Salem, where he posted a .279/.425/.412 slash line and an .837 OPS over 64 games.
The most eye-catching part? He walked more than he struck out - 39 walks to 37 strikeouts - a rare feat in today’s swing-heavy game.
That elite plate discipline followed him to Double-A Birmingham, where he improved his average to .292 and maintained a .435 OBP across 49 games. His OPS dipped slightly to .816, but the approach stayed mature and consistent.
If there’s one knock on Antonacci’s game, it’s the lack of pop. He’s only hit five home runs in 139 minor league games.
But when you’re reaching base at a clip like his and showing that kind of command of the strike zone, power becomes less of a must-have and more of a bonus. His walk and strikeout totals are dead even at 86 - a stat that speaks volumes about his approach and his ability to make pitchers work.
To cap off his breakout year, the White Sox sent Antonacci to the Arizona Fall League in October - a proving ground for some of the game’s top prospects. And once again, he delivered.
In 19 games, he slashed .378/.505/.541 with a 1.046 OPS. He added three home runs in just 74 at-bats and drew 15 walks, earning a spot on the Fall Stars roster alongside fellow White Sox prospects Braden Montgomery and Hagen Smith.
That Fall League performance wasn’t just a strong finish - it was a statement. Antonacci isn’t just surviving against high-level competition; he’s thriving. He’s now widely considered the best pure hitter in the White Sox farm system, and his strike-zone discipline is drawing attention across the league.
Heading into 2026, Antonacci isn’t on the 40-man roster yet, but that could change quickly. He wasn’t even ranked among the White Sox’s Top 30 prospects to begin last season.
By year’s end, he had climbed to No. 11.
With MLB Pipeline’s 2026 rankings still pending, don’t be surprised if he cracks the Top 10.
He turns 23 in February and has already proven he can handle Double-A pitching. A Triple-A assignment with Charlotte to open the season feels likely, and if he keeps producing, a midseason call-up isn’t out of the question.
The White Sox are expected to start the year with Chase Meidroth at second base, but if the position remains unsettled, Antonacci might be the first name they turn to. His bat-to-ball skills, plate discipline, and steady development make him a real candidate to debut in 2026.
While bigger names like Braden Montgomery, Hagen Smith, and Noah Schultz may draw more attention in the White Sox pipeline, Sam Antonacci is quietly - and quickly - becoming one of the most intriguing prospects in the system. He’s not just climbing the ranks; he’s redefining what a high-floor, high-IQ hitter can look like in today’s game. Keep an eye on him - the rest of baseball certainly is.