Less than two years after starring for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, Sam Antonacci reached his biggest stage in his baseball career yet on Wednesday, as the Chicago White Sox called up its No. 9 overall prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
Antonacci, 23, was drafted by the White Sox in the 5th round (No. 140 overall) of the 2024 MLB Draft and quickly ascended through the minor leagues. He made an immediate impact in Double-A with the Birmingham Barons, posting a .292 average across 49 games.
Known more for his contact-oriented approach than power, Antonacci consistently puts the ball in play and controls the strike zone. That skillset translated into elite production, as he ranked fourth in the minors in on-base percentage (.429) while also turning heads during the Arizona Fall League.
The Springfield, Illinois, product also impressed before the start of the 2026 MLB season in spring training, where he tallied 7 hits in 19 at-bats with two home runs.
He carried that success onto the international stage, emerging as a key contributor for Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic. Antonacci helped lead the team to a semifinal appearance and stood out as one of the tournament’s most dynamic players under manager Francisco Cervelli.
After transferring to Coastal Carolina, Antonacci thrived at the leadoff spot, hitting .367 with a Sun Belt Conference-best .523 OBP in 2024.
Antonacci understands his strengths and makes the most of his ability—working deep counts, delivering quality at-bats and rarely chasing pitches out of the zone.
That approach caught the attention of White Sox General Manager Chris Getz, especially after Antonacci tallied 15 hits, 15 walks, 7 RBIs and 5 stolen bases in his first 14 games in Charlotte at the Triple-A level.
Anotonacci will be joining a young team in Chicago as he teams up with Colson Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, Munetaka Murakami and pitcher Noah Schultz, who was just called up to make his Major League debut on Tuesday.
While his time in Conway was brief, it proved to be a pivotal stop—one that helped propel Antonacci to the show.
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