Antonacci’s Breakout Ramps Up Pressure On Meidroth In Crowded White Sox Infield Mix
Sam Antonacci has left fairly an impression this spring, and whereas Chicago White Sox basic supervisor Chris Getz has indicated he won’t break camp with the crew, the stress might be ramping up on Chase Meidroth.
Meidroth rapidly emerged as a fan favourite, bringing a sophisticated understanding of the strike zone, robust bat-to-ball abilities, and defensive versatility up the center. After being known as up in early April, he offered an immediate spark for the White Sox lineup, recording 10 hits in his first 10 video games. By the tip of his rookie marketing campaign, he had reached base 165 occasions, the third-most amongst American League rookies.
But in July, Meidroth needed to be shifted from shortstop to second base to accommodate Colson Montgomery, who proceeded to hit 21 homers in simply 71 video games. Montgomery is simply the tip of the iceberg in a White Sox group all of the sudden stuffed with infield depth.
A Suddenly Crowded Infield
The White Sox third-ranked prospect, Caleb Bonemer, earned Carolina League MVP honors in Single-A in his first skilled season. William Bergolla Jr, the White Sox’s Eleventh-ranked prospect, hit .286 in Double-A Birmingham final season, whereas main the minor leagues with a 5 p.c strikeout fee. And Billy Carlson, the White Sox’s first-round choose in 2025 and 73rd-ranked prospect in baseball, is taken into account by many to be among the best defensive shortstops to return out of final yr’s draft.
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The White Sox additionally maintain the No. 1 total choose within the 2026 draft, the place UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky is extensively seen as the favourite to go first total. Baseball America called him the best college shortstop prospect of the previous decade, whereas MLB Pipeline initiatives him as essentially the most well-rounded faculty shortstop to enter the draft in roughly 20 years.
Cholowsky is the kind of participant who may rush his means by way of the minor leagues rapidly and power the White Sox to slip Montgomery over to 3rd base as quickly as subsequent season.
While Meidroth has solidified himself because the beginning second baseman for the upcoming season, he might quickly be trying over his shoulder, with Antoncacci now rising as his greatest instant risk.
It’s not as if Meidroth has underperformed. He nonetheless carries a comparatively excessive ground. Through his first 122 video games, he owned a 14 p.c strikeout fee, good for the 88th percentile in MLB, whereas his whiff fee, chase fee and squared-up share all ranked within the top 16 percent of big-league hitters.
But with restricted energy and a .649 OPS to finish the 2025 season, Meidroth nonetheless has a methods to go earlier than he emerges because the definitive long-term resolution at second base, and a sluggish begin may immediate the White Sox to present Antonacci a glance.
Antonacci Brings Winning Edge
Following Antonacci’s breakout efficiency within the Arizona Fall League, the place he collected 28 hits and added three residence runs in 19 video games, the White Sox ninth-ranked prospect has continued to show heads. Antonacci has already gone deep in opposition to Jameson Taillon and Tanner Bibee in Cactus League play, then launched a 403-foot blast off Nolan McLean for Team Italy within the World Baseball Classic.
The sudden energy surge is especially notable contemplating Antonacci hit simply 5 residence runs within the minors final season, but nonetheless managed to slash .291/.433/.409 with 32 extra-base hits.
But it isn’t simply the field rating that has stood out. Antonacci’s hard-nosed model of play has translated into successful baseball. In the WBC alone, he charged residence on a handed ball in opposition to Team USA in a play that Jon Smoltz mentioned is likely to be “the greatest anticipated ball in the dirt with a runner on 3rd I think I’ve seen in a long time.”
He later manufactured a double play in opposition to Mexico by diving after a ball the baserunner believed had been hit up the center, when in actuality it was a lazy fly ball to heart area. The heads-up play fooled the runner into persevering with towards third, leading to a simple 8-3 double play. Later within the sport, he scored from first base on a single by aggressively sprinting to 3rd, then rapidly recognizing the ball had been misplayed in heart area, permitting him to cost residence.
“What he’s about, what he brings on a daily basis, it’s a winning style of baseball that’s going to fit in very well here,” Getz told MLB.com’s Scott Merkin. “I’m very confident that the South Side is going to enjoy watching Sam Antonacci when the time comes,”
Winning has adopted Antonacci at almost each cease of his profession, and that is hardly a coincidence. In 2023, he helped Heartland Community College seize the NJCAA Division II nationwide championship whereas incomes Junior College Player of the Year honors. After transferring to Coastal Carolina the next season, he continued to shine, hitting .367 whereas main the Sun Belt Conference with a .523 on-base share.
His toughness and competitiveness present up in each side of his sport, even in the way he gets on base. Antonacci was hit by 35 pitches between High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham final season, a trait he credit to classes discovered at Coastal Carolina about doing no matter it takes to succeed in base and assist the crew win.
Limited Options For Meidroth
A case might be made for moving Antonacci to the outfield to assist clear house for the White Sox rising group of infield prospects. However, even when the crew goes that route, Meidroth may nonetheless discover himself on the new seat.
His restricted arm energy makes second base his most pure match, which may grow to be a difficulty if each Roch Cholowsky and Colson Montgomery are within the group subsequent season. Offensively, he additionally shares an analogous profile with Bergolla and carries a decrease ceiling than Antonacci. Bonemer’s .874 OPS throughout two ranges throughout his first pro-season provides one other layer for Getz and firm to think about.
It’s a very good drawback for the White Sox to have, and one which will ultimately power them to maneuver some prospects to clear house. In the quick time period, nonetheless, Meidroth’s sophomore season may play a big function in whether or not he’s thought of a commerce chip, bench piece, or on a regular basis starter transferring ahead.
