Should White Sox Move Antonacci To Outfield? The Case Is Stronger Than You Think
Months after turning heads in the Arizona Fall League, Sam Antonacci wasted no time making an impression in White Sox camp, launching a no-doubt home run in his first Spring Training at-bat.
In the top of the second inning, Anotocci greeted Cubs starter Jameson Taillon with a majestic 110 mph, 417-foot two-run homer to right field, punctuated by a confident bat flip. The ball left his bat at 110 mph,
Antonacci entered camp as the White Sox’s No. 11 prospect after posting a .291/.433/.409 slash line across three levels last season. He closed the year at Double-A Birmingham, recording an .819 OPS over 49 games. He carried that momentum into the Arizona Fall League, where he led all players in hits and stolen bases, tallying 28 hits, 14 RBIs, and 11 steals.
It’s far too soon to overreact to a single Cactus League game, but Antonacci’s moonshot is a promising indicator he’s building legitimate power. He hit only five homers in the minors last year, yet followed it with three long balls in the AFL—and Friday’s blast suggests that surge wasn’t a one-off.
The 22-year-old infielder is already viewed as a key building block for the White Sox moving forward. The challenge now? Will a strong spring be enough to crack the Opening Day roster?
Antonaci faces steep odds of making the big league club’s opening day roster. As a non-roster invitee who’s yet to play above Double-A, the Springfield, Illinois native is staring down a crowded infield depth chart. While Antonacci is versatile, he is primarily a middle infielder with the bulk of his time coming at second base. He has also appeared at first base and the hot corner over his last two minor league seasons.
The only problem is that the infield spots appear to be locked down. Munetaka Murakami, Chase Meidroth, Colson Montgomery, and Miguel Vargas are the projected everyday starters, while Lenyn Sosa (last year’s team home-run leader) is already slotted as a top bench bat alongside utilityman Brooks Baldwin, making the path even tougher for a prospect still climbing the ladder.
However, the White Sox could shift Antonacci to the outfield if they want to accelerate his path. While he’s likely still a year or so from MLB readiness, the infield logjam could persist into 2027. With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft, Chicago is widely expected to select UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky—a polished prospect many see as near-MLB ready shortly after signing. That move would likely push Colson Montgomery to third base full-time, leaving second base as Antonacci’s main opening—unless the team trades Munetaka Murakami.
Antonacci has already shown a willingness to switch positions for the good of the organization, and his athleticism and natural versatility make him a stronger candidate for an outfield conversion than some of the White Sox past reclamation projects, like Andrew Vaughn and Gavin Sheets.
The White Sox outfield is far less settled than the infield. They’ve taken chances on former top-100 prospects and added experienced depth pieces like Lamonte Wade Jr. Currently, Luisangel Acuña and Austin Hays are slated for right and center field. With Benintendi’s glove declining, Chicago plans to move him mostly to DH, creating an open competition for at least one everyday outfield spot.
Still, converting a young player to a new position while he’s adjusting to major league pitching carries real risk. But if any prospect can handle that challenge, it’s Sam Antonacci.
His advanced plate approach and consistent ability to barrel the ball have been standout traits since he turned pro. The White Sox made controlling the strike zone a system-wide priority last season, and Antonacci’s disciplined left-handed swing fits that philosophy perfectly.
His toughness and competitiveness shine through in nearly every part of his game as well—even how he reaches base. He was hit by 35 pitches in 2025 across High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham, a habit that dates back to his college days at Coastal Carolina.
That edge helped fuel winning baseball in Birmingham, where he contributed to the Barons’ Southern League championship run, including driving in a run in the title-clinching game. On the basis, he’s an aggressive, instinctive runner with high energy and excellent feel.
Antonaci’s path to the 2026 Opening Day roster hinges on sustained power development this spring. Still, even if he falls short there, investing time in an outfield conversion would be a savvy play for the White Sox as they reshape their roster with athletic, adaptable pieces moving forward.