Real diehard Chicago White Sox fans have known about infield prospect Sam Antonacci for quite some time now.

His 2025 season was a marvel to watch unfold, as the former fifth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina simply continued to hit and produce at every level the White Sox challenged him with. From High-A Winston-Salem to Double-A Birmingham, and even in the Arizona Fall League, Antonacci showcased elite bat-to-ball skills, advanced baserunning instincts, plus speed, and even flashes of developing power. It all added up to one of the fastest rises in the White Sox system—and arguably across all of minor league baseball.

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But it wasn’t until the 2026 World Baseball Classic that Antonacci truly started to gain widespread recognition.

Team Italy made an unexpected run, and Antonacci felt like he was in the middle of everything. He made plays seemingly every night, and his home run against Team USA turned heads on a national stage. From there, his name began popping up more regularly across Chicago sports media as fans and analysts alike started to look ahead to what his future might hold on the South Side.

Entering the 2026 season, Antonacci ranks as the No. 9 prospect in the White Sox organization, according to MLB Pipeline. And there’s a growing belief among fans that a big league call-up could come sooner rather than later.

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While he didn’t make the team out of spring training, Antonacci will begin the year in Triple-A Charlotte. He’s now just one step away from the majors—and if he continues to hit the way he has at every stop, he’s going to force the issue.

But “force the issue” is the key phrase here.

Because as promising as Antonacci is, the White Sox have a crowded infield situation to sort through. Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery appear locked in at third base and shortstop, at least for 2026. Chase Meidroth is currently the everyday second baseman, and if Opening Day was any indication, he doesn’t look like someone ready to give up that role anytime soon.

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And that’s before you even factor in the next wave.

Caleb Bonemer (the organization’s No. 3 prospect), Billy Carlson (No. 5), and last year’s first-round pick are all part of a growing infield pipeline. Add in UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky—who many expect could be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft and potentially on a fast track to the majors—and it becomes even more crowded.

So where does that leave Antonacci?

The White Sox may already be answering that question.

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According to director of player development Paul Janish, Antonacci will begin getting reps in the outfield a couple of days per week in Charlotte. The goal is to expand his versatility and prepare him to fill multiple roles at the big league level.

It’s a smart and intentional move. Right now, the White Sox have a clear organizational weakness in the outfield. The MLB group is underwhelming, and while Braden Montgomery is an exciting prospect on the way, he can’t cover all three spots by himself. Meanwhile, the infield pipeline is rapidly becoming one of the deepest areas in the organization.

Shifting Antonacci to a corner outfield role helps solve both problems. It creates a clearer path to MLB playing time for him while addressing a real need for the big league roster.

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That’s a win-win.

And frankly, it’s the kind of forward-thinking, intuitive move that hasn’t always been a given for this organization. We’ve seen situations in the past—like with Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero—where additional positional flexibility felt like an obvious opportunity, yet never fully materialized.

But the White Sox now appear ready to follow through. Antonacci is leading off for the Knights in Friday night’s opener and playing left field.