White Sox Prospect Plays Crucial Role in Italy's Stunning WBC Upset Over Team USA

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In one of the biggest upsets so far during the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Italy beat Team USA 8-6 on Tuesday night. And one of the Chicago White Sox's top prospects, Sam Antonacci, was a key contributor in that shocking victory over a star-studded American team. Antonacci crushed a two-run home run in the second inning to extend Italy's early lead and also scored a crucial insurance run for Italy on a wild pitch in the sixth inning. The 23-year-old infielder also showed off his defensive skills with several impressive plays in the field.

Why it matters

Antonacci's performance in the WBC has put him on the map as a rising prospect in the White Sox organization. If he can continue to produce at the plate and in the field, he could be in line for a promotion to the major leagues in the near future.

The details

Antonacci, the White Sox's No. 9 prospect for 2026, crushed a 403-foot two-run home run in the second inning against Nolan McLean, the New York Mets' No. 1 prospect and MLB Pipeline's No. 6 overall prospect for 2026. He also scored a crucial insurance run for Italy in the sixth inning on a wild pitch. Antonacci also made several impressive defensive plays, including a slick barehanded play in Italy's WBC win over Great Britain and another web gem in the ninth inning against Team USA.

• Antonacci hit a two-run homer in the second inning.
• Antonacci scored a run on a wild pitch in the sixth inning.

What’s next

Antonacci's performance in the WBC could earn him a promotion to Triple-A to start the 2026 season, or at least put him on track for a debut at that level very early in the season.