Antonacci batted .471 as a Heartland (Ill.) CC freshman before winning Division II JUCO Player of the Year honors in 2023, when he topped that level in hitting (.515), on-base percentage (.618), runs (105), hits (106), doubles (32) and RBIs (103) while leading the Hawks to a national title. His bat-to-ball skills and on-base ability translated to NCAA Division I this spring, when he hit .367 at Coastal Carolina and paced the Sun Belt Conference with a .523 on-base percentage. He's an overachiever who stands out more with his skills, instincts and energy than his tools.
One of the most disciplined hitters in the college ranks, Antonacci takes a lot of pitches, rarely strays out of the strike zone and makes repeated contact against all types of pitches versus both left-handers and right-handers. A lefty hitter, he uses the opposite field well and draws more than his share of walks. His offensive upside is limited by his well-below-average power, however, as he produces lackluster exit velocities and rarely turns on pitches or drives them in the air.
Though he has fringy speed, Antonacci is an aggressive baserunner who will steal when given the opportunity. A shortstop at Heartland, he moved to third base this spring and committed 15 errors in 57 games. He has average arm strength, is best suited for second base and should be capable of also handling the outfield corners in a utility role.
Antonacci helped Heartland (Ill.) win the Division II junior college title in 2023, earning National Player of the Year honors while pacing that level in hitting (.515), on-base percentage (.618), runs (105), hits (106), doubles (32) and RBIs (103). After he transferred to Coastal Carolina and batted .367 with a Sun Belt Conference-best .523 OBP in 2024, the White Sox made him a fifth-round pick. In his first full year as a pro, he earned All-Star accolades in the High-A South Atlantic League, won a championship in the Double-A Southern League, ranked fourth in the Minors in OBP (.429) and impressed scouts in the Arizona Fall League.
Antonacci's skills and constant energy are more impressive than his tools, but he understands his strengths and limitations and makes the most of his ability. He takes the most professional at-bats in Chicago's system, rarely chasing pitches or coming up empty when he turns his compact left-handed swing loose. He doesn't have much power, so he focuses on putting the ball in play to all fields and getting on base.
Though Antonacci possesses just fringy speed, he's an aggressive runner who will steal and take extra bases. Though he played shortstop at Heartland and third base at Coastal Carolina, he fits best at second base, where he has spent the majority of his pro career. His instincts enhance his decent range and average arm strength, but they're both stretched on the left side of the infield.
The Division II junior college player of the year in 2023, Antonacci topped that level in hitting (.515), on-base percentage (.618), runs (105), hits (106), doubles (32) and RBIs (103) while leading Heartland (Ill.) to the national title. His bat-to-ball skills and on-base ability continued to stand out after he transferred to Coastal Carolina last spring, as he hit .367 against NCAA Division I pitching and posted a Sun Belt Conference-best .523 on-base percentage. Known as an overachiever whose instincts and energy are more impressive than his tools, he has continued to live up to that reputation since the White Sox made him a fifth-round pick last July.
An extremely disciplined left-handed hitter, Antonacci takes a lot of pitches, rarely chases out of the strike zone and makes repeated contact to all fields. He may take the most competitive at-bats in the system and has a knack for putting the bat on the ball against quality pitching. He comes with very little power, however, producing lackluster exit velocities and rarely turning on balls or driving them in the air.
Despite fringy speed, Antonacci is an aggressive and instinctive baserunner who could steal 20 bases per season. A shortstop at Heartland and a third baseman at Coastal Carolina, he's best suited for second base. He has average arm strength and decent range, but the game speeds up on him on the left side of the infield.
These run values are leveraged, meaning the base/out situation at the time of the event does impact the run value (thus introducing context outside the batter's own contribution).
! Note: Shifts are through the 2022 season, Shaded starting from the 2023 season, Shift: three or more infielders are on the same side of second base, Shade: positioned outside of their typical responsible slices of the field. Learn more about how positioning is defined here