As prospect season heats up and MLB Pipeline begins rolling out its annual positional rankings, the Chicago White Sox are making some serious noise. Five of their farmhands have already earned top-100 recognition-Braden Montgomery, Noah Schultz, Billy Carlson, Caleb Bonemer, and Hagen Smith-all ranked within the top 88. That’s a solid core to build around, and it speaks to the strides the organization has made in player development over the past couple of seasons.
But just as notable is the emergence of a new name on the national radar: Sam Antonacci. The 22-year-old second baseman was just ranked No. 10 among all second base prospects in baseball by MLB Pipeline, and it’s a nod that feels both overdue and well-earned.
Antonacci might not have come into pro ball with the fanfare of a first-rounder, but he’s been doing exactly what you want from a mid-round pick-raking at every level. Drafted in the fifth round back in 2024, the Illinois native was one of the first selections under GM Chris Getz, and so far, he’s looking like an early draft-day steal.
Right out of the gate, Antonacci turned heads in Kannapolis, slashing .333/.471 in his first 23 professional games. He showed off elite plate discipline, walking more than he struck out, and added seven stolen bases for good measure. That kind of debut doesn’t go unnoticed, but it was 2025 that really put him on the map.
In his first full season, Antonacci climbed all the way to Double-A-a rare and impressive feat for a player just a year removed from the draft. He started the year with High-A Winston-Salem, where he posted a .279 average and a .425 on-base percentage, along with four home runs and 27 stolen bases. That performance earned him a midseason promotion to Birmingham, and he didn’t slow down one bit.
With the Barons, Antonacci continued to show off his advanced approach at the plate, hitting .292 with a .435 OBP over 49 games. He drew 28 walks and struck out just 31 times, while driving in 25 runs and swiping 21 more bags. That’s the kind of all-around production that gets evaluators talking-and the White Sox took notice, sending him to the Arizona Fall League to cap off the year.
In the AFL, Antonacci didn’t just hold his own-he dominated. Over 19 games, he slashed .378/.505, launched three homers, drove in 14 runs, and stole 11 bases.
He also posted more walks (15) than strikeouts (11), continuing the trend of elite plate discipline against some of the best competition in the minors. Not surprisingly, he was named an AFL All-Star.
Now, with his name officially on a top-10 positional list, Antonacci is knocking on the door of the top-100 overall conversation. And if he continues to hit the way he has-getting on base, using his speed, and making pitchers uncomfortable-he could very well find himself in Chicago before the 2026 season is over.
The White Sox have already built a strong foundation of talent in their system, but Antonacci’s rise gives them another potential piece of the puzzle. He’s not the flashiest name in the group, but his consistent production, advanced approach, and versatility up the middle make him one of the most intriguing players to watch in the organization this year.
Bottom line: Sam Antonacci is earning every bit of this recognition. And if he keeps trending the way he has, don’t be surprised if he forces his way into the big-league conversation sooner rather than later.