White Sox' top prospects shine in Triple-A opener

Noah Schultz, Sam Antonacci and others get off to hot starts for Charlotte Knights

Mar. 28, 2026 at 7:48pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the players and action on the field.The White Sox' top prospects shine in a high-scoring Triple-A opener, offering a glimpse of the team's future potential.Chicago Today

While the White Sox struggled on Opening Day, their top minor league prospects put on an impressive display in the Charlotte Knights' season opener. Pitchers Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith both had strong outings, with Schultz striking out five batters over four hitless innings. Infielder Sam Antonacci, fresh off playing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic, hit a three-run homer as part of the Knights' 19-2 blowout win over the Durham Bulls.

Why it matters

The White Sox are in the midst of a rebuild, so the performance of their top prospects in the minors will be closely watched as indicators of the team's future direction. Strong showings from players like Schultz and Antonacci provide hope that the franchise's next wave of talent is developing well and could soon make an impact at the major league level.

The details

In his first Triple-A start, 2024 first-round pick Hagen Smith gave up one run but struck out four batters over three innings. Towering 2022 first-rounder Noah Schultz fanned five over four hitless frames in relief. Shortstop prospect William Bergolla Jr. went 4-for-5 with two doubles, and Springfield native Sam Antonacci, an infielder who played for Italy in the WBC, smacked a three-run homer.

  • The Charlotte Knights opened their season on Friday, March 28, 2026.

The players

Noah Schultz

A 2022 first-round draft pick by the White Sox, Schultz is a towering left-handed pitcher who impressed in his Triple-A debut, striking out five batters over four hitless innings.

Hagen Smith

The White Sox' 2024 first-round pick, Smith gave up one run but struck out four in his first Triple-A start for the Charlotte Knights.

William Bergolla Jr.

A shortstop prospect in the White Sox system, Bergolla went 4-for-5 with two doubles in the Knights' season opener.

Sam Antonacci

An infielder from Springfield, Illinois, Antonacci hit a three-run homer for the Knights after representing Italy in the World Baseball Classic.

Paul Janish

The White Sox' player development director, Janish said Antonacci will play some outfield in Charlotte to prepare him for a potential big-league debut.

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What they’re saying

“'[He's] going to play some outfield in Charlotte to start the year in an effort to get him comfortable with it. There's a chance that he gets asked to do that at the Major League level. If that's the case, we want to have him prepared to do it if and when the time comes.'”

— Paul Janish, White Sox player development director

What’s next

The White Sox will continue to monitor the progress of their top prospects in the minor leagues, with an eye toward potential call-ups to the major league roster later in the season.

The takeaway

The strong performances by White Sox prospects in the Charlotte Knights' season opener provide encouraging signs for the team's rebuilding efforts. Players like Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith, and Sam Antonacci are developing well and could soon make an impact at the big-league level, offering hope for the franchise's future.