Sam

Antonacci

Antonacci takes a seat with Athletics rookie lefty Gage Jump toeing the rubber for Saturday’s showdown in Chicago. The 23-year-old went 1-for-5 with an RBI and his 13th stolen base of the season during Friday’s series opener. He’s emerged as the White Sox primary table-setter, slashing .288/.380/.409 with 47 runs scored, five homers and 26 RBI across 299 plate appearances over 74 games. It’ll be veteran lefty-masher Randal Grichuk in the leadoff spot to kick off Saturday’s tilt.

He also stole his 12th base of the year. Because they were facing Payton Tolle tonight, the White Sox had Antonacci batting fifth instead of his usual first. All three of Antonacci’s hits came off of lefties — two off Tolle and one off Daniel Coulombe — but that still only makes him 10-for-50 with no extra-base hits and one walk against southpaws this year.

Antonacci took Dean Kremer deep on the second pitch of the game, but it was the only run Chicago could muster. The rookie hit just one homer from April 15 through June 13, but he’s left the yard four times since then. He was already profiling as a strong fantasy asset with batting average, runs scored, and stolen-base upside, but the recent power uptick is surely welcomed. He’ll remain a must-start fantasy option as the White Sox head to Cleveland for a four-game set beginning Thursday.

Antonacci takes a seat following 10 consecutive starts in left field since June 19. The 23-year-old rookie has settled in nicely as Chicago’s top-of-the-order table-setter, hitting .291/.391/.413 with 43 runs scored, four homers, 22 RBI and 11 steals in 263 plate appearances through 65 games. He’s definitely lived up to fantasy managers’ most optimistic projections. It’ll be Kyle Teel moving up to the leadoff spot with Junior Perez in left field on Tuesday night.

Antonacci put the White Sox ahead in this game twice in the late innings. In the seventh inning, his RBI single gave Chicago a 4-3 lead. Then in the ninth inning, Antonacci put the White Sox ahead for good with a two-run walk-off single off Guardians’ closer Cade Smith. Antonacci is hitting .291 with an .813 OPS and 22 RBI this year.

Antonacci didn’t waste any time, launching the second pitch thrown by Troy Melton for a 393-foot (100.2-mph EV) solo shot to right center. That would wind up being the extent of the White Sox’ offense in the ballgame. Antonacci finished the day 2-for-2 plus a walk and a hit by pitch and is now hitting .293/.393/.429 with four homers, 19 RBI and nine stolen bases in 226 plate appearances in his rookie campaign.

With LHP Ryan Weathers going, the White Sox will rest Antonacci in favor of fellow LHB Tristan Peters. Antonacci is in danger of being platooned if the White Sox find the right mix after getting off to a .111/.238/.111 start against left-handers in his first 36 at-bats. Still, he’s young enough that Chicago should probably keep giving him more chances.

It’s the second homer of the season for Antonacci, and the first of his MLB career to actually leave the park; his first was an inside-the-park shot. The 23-year-old has done a solid job at the top of the Chicago lineup, and while there isn’t much power in his bat, his .278/.379/.381 slash is certainly not without merit.

Antonacci entered Sunday tied for 16th in stolen bases since being called up from Triple-A. He was also tied for 25th in runs scored and 29th in OBP during that span. His contact skills and propensity to reach base via HBP have fueled his high run total when batting atop Chicago’s lineup against righties. The one aspect of his track record that has yet to translate is his walk rate, which routinely sat in the double digits in the minors. There’s still plenty of time for that to improve as he settles in at the big-league level.

Antonacci’s first three-hit game as a major leaguer came last week against Minnesota. Now he has a four-hit game versus the same team. He’s batting .291/.383/.391 with one homer and eight steals through 45 games as a major leaguer.