Sam Antonacci is in the big leagues. The Chicago White Sox called up the infielder on Wednesday, a day after Noah Schultz made his MLB debut, and opened a roster spot by designating outfielder Dustin Harris for assignment.
Antonacci, who was the White Sox's No. 9 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline, gets the promotion after moving from Single-A two years ago to Double-A a year later without ever suiting up in Triple-A. That path has been unusually fast even by modern prospect standards, and it came after a spring in which he played in nine Cactus League games and hit.368/.538/.789.
The White Sox also added left-handed pitcher Tyler Gilbert in exchange for Brandon Eisert, another sign that the club is still shaping the roster as it looks for answers in the present while leaning on young talent for the future. Chicago entered Wednesday at 6-11, and Antonacci's call-up fits a team that has already shown a willingness to move quickly when a prospect looks ready.
There had been speculation that Antonacci could arrive earlier, but the White Sox kept him in the minors even as fans pushed for a promotion. General manager Chris Getz stayed with that plan until Wednesday, when the club finally brought up a player who was also a key piece of Team Italy's run to the semifinal round of the World Baseball Classic. The speed of his rise now puts the question on the field rather than in the rumor mill: whether a player who was in Single-A two years ago can hold his own immediately in the majors.
For Antonacci, the climb has gone from a distant possibility to a roster move in a matter of months. For the White Sox, it is another test of whether a young player can help now, not just later.
