The White Sox will call up at least one of their top prospects for Tuesday’s series opener against the Rays. Noah Schultz will start the game against Shane McClanahan in a promotion that will officially be announced tomorrow morning.
Does Chicago have another promotion looming for a highly-regarded young player? Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and Mitchell Armentrout of The Chicago Sun-Times each write that the Sox front office is weighing whether to promote utility player Sam Antonacci. Noah Phelan of Southside Showdown reported on Saturday that Antonacci would be promoted alongside Schultz for the opener with Tampa Bay. The reports from The Athletic and Sun-Times suggest that the team has not made a final decision but that a promotion might be imminent.
It’s probably not a coincidence that the Sox traded infielder Lenyn Sosa to the Blue Jays this afternoon. Sosa led the team with 22 home runs a season ago, yet his defensive shortcomings and .293 on-base percentage made him a limited player. Chase Meidroth and Munetaka Murakami are playing almost every day on the right side of the infield. Sosa is out of options and had been in a bench role without much multi-positional versatility.
The Sox need to bring up a position player to replace Sosa on the active roster (while also dropping a pitcher from the 26-man to accommodate the Schultz promotion). Sosa’s 40-man roster spot will go to the 6’10” southpaw. Calling up Antonacci would require a second 40-man move. Drew Thorpe and Prelander Berroa each underwent Tommy John surgery early in 2025 and are candidates to move to the 60-day injured list.
The 23-year-old Antonacci is out to a quick start to the season with Triple-A Charlotte. He has reached base 30 times in 13 games, tallying 13 hits while drawing 15 walks and getting plunked twice. Antonacci’s polished plate discipline and hit tool have been his calling card as a prospect. The left-handed batter posted a .291/.433/.409 line while stealing 48 bases between High-A and Double-A last year.
Antonacci, whom Baseball America ranked the #9 prospect in the Sox’s system over the winter, has played mostly second or third base over his minor league career. That hasn’t been the case in 2026. He has started two games at second and 10 in left field, his first career outfield work. He’s not viewed as a great defender anywhere but could rotate between second base, left field and designated hitter. Meidroth hits right-handed, as do bench pieces Derek Hill and Tanner Murray.
Just do it already. He’s proven to hit well. All these other promotions (Cannon, Schweitzer etc.) instead seem quite random.
Betcha Anton comes up for a cup of coffee with Ryan Teel
Not sure Teel’s ready yet, but it can’t come soon enough.
Too bad they can’t revive Joe Dimaggio too. He was “Mr. Coffee” back in the day, think for his proclivity to get called up, play an inning or three, then get sent back down to Elmira
Kyle Teel*
Tomato tomatoh*
They need all the help they can get to score runs. At this point, anything will be considered.
Meidroth has done zip at the top of the order. Need some OBP at the leadoff already. Don’t stop there! Bring Korey Lee back and give him the starting job. Cut bait with McGuire and sit Quero until he gets his swing back.
Korey Lee hasn’t done well in Charlotte and McGuire is statsically better than Lee as a backup catcher.
Asking for Korey Lee when you want offense seems counterproductive.
Murakami is good for 30 homers, a .296 OBP and bad defense – 8 more homers than Lenyn hit in ’25.
Sam’s ability to take a walk, and not strike out much; along with- can steal a lot of bases- that could be very helpful
The White Sox offense is anemic. They’d do well to promote both Sam Antonacci and William Bergolla Jr. along with Noah Schultz on Tuesday.
Antonacci to LF. He’ll provide depth at 2B and 3B.
Bergolla Jr. to 2B. He’ll provide depth at SS.
Antonacci and Bergolla Jr. each hit left-handed and could provide a new “traditional” top of the batting order duo. These are two grunts with high baseball IQ’s who will get on base and score runs. They will also make contact which enables Will Venable to play small ball. He can utilize the hit and run and know these guys will make contact. Bergolla Jr. is also the premier bunter in professional baseball. If Venable calls for a squeeze bunt with a man on third Bergolla Jr. will get the job done. Because of his elite contact and bunting skills I’d utilize Bergolla Jr. in the #2 slot and let Antonacci lead off.
The question then becomes, who gets launched with these two promotions. With each of these guys hitting left-handed, the White Sox would likely cut loose at least one lefty hitter on their roster. They currently have 3 lefty hitting OF’s. It would probably come down to either Dustin Harris or Tristan Peters. If Chris Getz had the balls and Jerry Reinsdorf agreed, maybe they finally DFA Andrew Benintendi.
It’s possible the other cut could be a second lefty hitting OF. It might also be an infielder. Tanner Murray would be a likely candidate. Chase Meidroth might also be a “reset” candidate ticketed for Charlotte much like opening day SP Shane Smith was last week. If the decision were mine, I’d probably keep Meidroth for now and hope the Antonacci and Bergolla Jr. promotions light a fire under him. I also like the idea of Meidroth being available when a tough lefty starts since he can spell either Bergolla Jr. at 2B or Colson Montgomery at SS.
Sam Antonacci leadership is going to boost this team!
These batters are not yet MLB ready batters and should be let go first
Hill
Murray
McGuire
Peters and Harris have track records of decent batting so they should stay.
Sam Antonacci definitely plays with his “hair on fire”. He’ll be an excellent table setter for the lineup. It might be a bit presumptuous for someone so young to become a team leader right out of the gate but his enthusiasm will be contagious.
Reese McGuire isn’t going anywhere unless another catcher is promoted. He probably sticks until Kyle Teel returns from the IL later this month. Hopefully Edgar Quero starts getting hot with the bat. Hitting has been his best tool. If he continues to struggle at the dish when Teel returns, it could be Quero who gets a “reset” demotion to AAA.
I still contend at least one of Dustin Harris or Tristan Peters goes in order to make room for Antonacci and/or Bergolla Jr. The White Sox will be too left-handed if they keep both on roster.
Note: Triple-A Charlotte shortstop William Bergolla Jr. suffered a shin bruise after colliding with left fielder Sam Antonacci while pursuing a pop fly in the outfield. The White Sox placed him on the seven-day injured list on April 10.
If Antonacci does get promoted on Tuesday along with SP Noah Schultz it clearly won’t be with Bergolla Jr. The White Sox were reportedly still contemplating the Antonucci promotion as we post. I wonder if this mishap in the outfield is giving them some pause in regards to his current acumen on the grass as he continues to learn a new position “on the fly”.
Show me a team that bunts a lot and I’ll show you a loser.
2005 white sox
Yep! When Ozzie Guillen was hired he stated that “small ball” would be a big part of his managing. The White Sox proceeded to trade athletically limited thumper Carlos Lee to the Brewers in December of 2004 for fan favorite “grunt” Scott Podsednik who would help lead the team to the promised land the following season. Podsednik also happened to be a very good hitter, BUNTER and base stealer atop the White Sox batting order.
I’m also old enough to remember another White Sox era, the”Go-Go” teams of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Those teams also excelled at “small ball” with hit and runs, BUNTING and defense playing a huge role to supplement excellent pitching. Just saying…
Small sample size but I love what this young man brings to the table. Low strikeouts and good on base plus good speed, with what looks like a contact-oriented bat, really would be fantastic to see translate at the big league level.
This dude was one of my favorite parts of the WBC. His love of the game is vivid. He’s already hit nukes off Bibee, Taillon and Mclean. Let the man hold the baby.
The Sox need outfielders which the Yankees have in abundance. The Yankees need a third baseman and second baseman that can make consistent contact, get on base, steal bases ifo Judge. Here’s a trade idea, Yanks send either Jasson Dominguez or Spencer Jones with Ryan McMahon’s 2 year contract, and former ROY pitcher Luis Gil to the white Sox for Antonacci and Bergolla plus one bullpen arm?
I’ve read some creative suggestions for re-positioning many White Sox players, but the fatal flaw in all of them is no matter where you play them, they just can’t hit. I mean can’t put the bat on the ball, let alone get a base hit. The Mendoza line would be progress for their batting averages. They strike out with amazing frequency. As long as the Sox rotate players, none of whom can hit and who strike out over and over and over, they will just be spinning their wheels. I want guys who can put the ball in play, put pressure on the opposing team’s defense, and take advantage of scoring opportunities.
Why not?
The smart move is to leave Antonacci in Charlotte where he can play every day.
Recent rumors had Murakami going to the Yankees
For Spencer Jones, Luis Gil and Ryan Mcmahon.
He has been called up. Have it from a very reliable source.
I like what the Sox are doing, although it takes some roster management to make it work. I want them to seriously compete next year, so bringing these guys up and exposing them to the majors is important in 2026.
Initiate the Antonacci Sequence.