The Chicago White Sox are in the middle of an offensive slump.
As of April 15, Chicago has scored just 54 runs, just ahead of the San Francisco Giants‘ 52 runs in last place.
Amid these struggles, the White Sox have announced they called up utilityman prospect Sam Antonacci from Triple-A. Chicago has also called up reliever Tyler Gilbert, optioning reliever Brandon Eisert to Triple-A and designating outfielder Dustin Harris for assignment.
Gilbert played in just one game for Chicago before being sent down earlier this season. In Triple-A, he has struggled in a hitter-friendly environment to a 5.68 ERA.
Eisert played in just two games for Chicago, giving up four runs in 2.1 innings.
Meanwhile, Harris slashed .250/.438/.333 and played solid defense in six games with the White Sox, making this a surprising move.
Who Is Sam Antonacci of the Chicago White Sox?
Antonacci was a fifth-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Coastal Carolina University. Since then, he has been a quick riser through the minors and prospect lists.
MLB Pipeline has Antonacci as the No. 9 prospect in Chicago’s system.
While not possessing much in the way of power, Antonacci has great bat-to-ball skills with a .299 average in the minors. He is also known for his elite plate discipline with a .445 on-base percentage.
While his run tool is not anything to write home about, he can steal bases at an elite level. In 2025, he stole 48 bases.
Although he did have a great season in 2025, he got on fans’ radars at the Arizona Fall League, where he slashed .378/.505/.541 in 19 games.
He can play most positions in the infield and outfield, making him incredibly versatile.
He will be coming up at the age of 23. Wherever Antonacci has gone, he has raked, making the White Sox organization and their fans confident in his quick promotion.
How Does Antonacci Figure to Help the Team?
While Antonacci’s expertise is in the infield, the White Sox have prepared him for this moment.
Amid several injuries in the outfield, as well as poor play among those starting, Antonacci will get his chance in the outfield. Antonacci has been preparing for this by playing left field in Triple-A.
With infielders Munetaka Murakami, Chase Meidroth, Colson Montgomery, and Miguel Vargas entrenched at their positions for now, with more prospects to come, Antonacci may not quite fit in the infield at this time.
Outfielder Austin Hays is currently injured with a hamstring strain, meaning there is an opening in left field for Chicago.
While the White Sox’s highest-paid player, Andrew Benintendi, is currently playing there, this could force him to DH or the bench.
With the trade of infielder Lenyn Sosa, Antonacci will likely be placed in left field for the time being.
When he is healthy again, Hays will likely play right or center field amid struggles at those positions.
Chicago has shuffled players around in right field this season, and Hays could be a short-term stopgap at the position.
As for center field, Luisangel Acuña has struggled to a .180/.208/.180 slash line with mediocre defense.
Either way, Antonacci is likely here to stay. If his dominance in the minors has shown anything, it’s that he is ready for the challenge ahead.
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