With the 2025 draft class complete, the White Sox must reconfigure their farm system to make space for their new draftees. Several prospects have reportedly been promoted for this reason, with one in particular being a notable development. Infielder Sam Antonacci will head from High-A to Double-A, per Elijah Evans of FutureSox.
Strong 2025 Campaign
Antonacci, 22, was taken by the White Sox in the fifth round in last year's draft and has outperformed expectations. After a strong cup of coffee with the Low-A Kannapolis Cannon Ballers last year, the left-handed hitting infielder has continued to impress against better competition. In 287 plate appearances over 63 games with the High-A Winston Salem Dash this season, he is hitting .280/.426/.413 with ten doubles, four triples, four home runs, 27 stolen bases, and a 151 wRC+, walking 39 times compared to just 37 strikeouts. He won the White Sox minor league player of the month award in June, a testament to his outstanding performance relative to his peers in the White Sox farm system.
Defensive Versatility
Defensive versatility is another key aspect of Antonacci's game. Despite playing primarily third base at the collegiate level, he has experience playing all over the infield. This season with the Dash, he has appeared in 28 games at second base, 19 games at third base, six games at shortstop, and three games at first base. His ability to play all over the field will only help him as he progresses through the higher levels of the minor leagues.
Big Test Ahead
Antonacci has earned his shot at Double-A, but the next level brings steeper competition and new tests. The pitching will be better than he has ever faced before, and he will be over two years younger than the average player at that level. The Barons' home ballpark has also traditionally been more pitcher-friendly than hitter-friendly. If he continues performing, however, he will firmly put his name on the map as a prospect to watch.
Antonacci's Future Outlook
Sam Antonacci was not a highly regarded prospect when the White Sox drafted him. He was the 140th pick in the draft, and one could argue that he is still overlooked. After all, he currently ranks as just the #26 overall prospect in the White Sox farm system per MLB.com. He doesn't have the pedigree or one elite tool that most top prospects have. That said, he has firmly entrenched himself as one of the more interesting position player prospects in the White Sox organization. His unique blend of on-base skills, speed, and defensive versatility makes him an intriguing talent. It is a foregone conclusion that he will rank higher on updated prospect lists. At the rate he is going, a big league debut sometime in 2026 is not out of the question.
