After a breakout campaign in the White Sox minor league system, Sam Antonacci continues to impress in the Arizona Fall League.
On Tuesday, the 22-year-old infielder delivered another strong performance for the Glendale Desert Dogs, going 2-for-4 with a stolen base and two runs scored. Antonacci is now 9-for-35 at the plate in AFL play, which includes a home run, two doubles, five walks, and four stolen bases. Though it comes from a limited sample, the home run is an encouraging sign for a player who showed modest power during the regular season, hitting just five in 116 games.
Ranked as the White Sox No. 11 prospect, Antonacci is positioning himself as a legitimate part of the organization’s future infield plans.
Antonacci’s advanced approach at the plate and consistent ability to barrel the baseball have stood out since he entered pro ball, and those traits continue to hold up against top-level competition. The White Sox emphasized controlling the strike zone throughout the organization this past season, and Antonacci’s disciplined left-handed approach aligns perfectly with that philosophy.
The Springfield, Illinois native slashed .291/.433/.409 across three levels, finishing the regular season in Double-A Birmingham, where he posted a .819 OPS across 49 games. Antonacci rarely chased pitches outside of the zone, drawing 69 walks on the year.
Antonacci’s toughness and competitiveness show up in every facet of his game — even in how he gets on base. He was hit by 35 pitches across his stops at High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham this season, something he traces back to his time at Coastal Carolina.
“They taught us well, taught us how to do it the proper way. Just goes back to being selfless, wanting to get on base for your team. The way I look at it is if you’re in an 0-2 count and they throw a curveball at your feet and you’re getting out of the way, that shows me you don’t really want to win too much,” Antonacci told MLB.com’s Scott Merkin.
That edge and competitiveness translated directly into winning baseball in Birmingham, where he helped the Barons capture the Southern League championship, driving in a run in the title-clinching game. He’s also proven to be an aggressive baserunner with excellent instincts and energy on the basepaths.
Winning, in fact, has been a constant throughout Antonacci’s career. In 2023, he helped Heartland College capture the NJCAA Division II national championship, batting an incredible .515 with a .618 on-base percentage, 106 hits, and 105 runs scored — a performance that earned him Junior College Player of the Year honors. After transferring to Coastal Carolina the following season, he continued to impress, hitting .367 and leading the Sun Belt Conference with a .523 on-base percentage.
Those traits — toughness, discipline, and a team-first mentality — make Antonacci an ideal fit for a young White Sox core that began to show promise in the second half of the season.
Miguel Vargas currently appears to have the inside track at third base, but the 24-year-old has expressed a willingness to move if needed. Vargas told MLB.com’s Scott Merkin that while he views himself primarily as a third baseman, he’s open to playing wherever the team believes he can contribute.
Antonacci, who has spent time at second base, shortstop, and third base, could be the answer in the hot corner if the White Sox opt to move Vargas to first base. Should the team bypass adding a first baseman in free agency, Vargas has already shown he can handle the position, appearing in 65 games at first this past season.
While Antonacci is still likely a year away from seeing MLB action, he's steadily making his case to secure a future role with the White Sox.
