White Sox call up another top prospect, selecting Sam Antonacci's contract from Triple-A

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox called up another top prospect on Wednesday when they selected Sam Antonacci's contract from Triple-A Charlotte, and he made a good first impression.

The 23-year-old Antonacci started at second base in his major league debut and singled leading off the second inning in his first at-bat against the Tampa Bay Rays. He made a diving, backhanded stop on Junior Caminero's RBI grounder in the fifth, and walked and scored in the ninth.

Antonacci said after the White Sox lost 8-3 that playing in the majors was a “dream come true.” He grew up about three hours south of Rate Field in Springfield, the state capital, and had family on hand.

“It means everything,” he said. “They have jobs. It's a three-hour drive for a lot of them. Just means a lot. The thing I'm most proud of is all the sacrifices that they made and all the money that they've spent to help me be in this position today.”

Antonacci was 15 for 48 with two homers and seven RBIs in 14 games with Charlotte. He helped Italy reach the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic, starting all six games and hitting a home run in a win over the United States. He is rated by Baseball America as the No. 9 prospect in the organization and No. 93 overall.

Antonacci impressed the White Sox in spring training. It took three weeks to get to the majors because he was learning left field, which is where manager Will Venable plans to use him the most. The organization lacks outfield depth.

His promotion came a day after prized left-hander Noah Schultz debuted against Tampa Bay, going 4 1/3 innings and taking the loss as the Rays beat the White Sox 8-5. Schultz is rated as Chicago's No. 1 prospect.

The White Sox also recalled left-hander Tyler Gilbert from Charlotte and optioned lefty Brandon Eisert to the minor league club. They designated outfielder Dustin Harris for assignment.

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Chicago White Sox's Sam Antonacci (17) removes his gloves after being forced out at first base during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago White Sox's Sam Antonacci (17) takes off before being forced out at first base during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago White Sox's Sam Antonacci (17) takes off before being forced out at first base during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

ATLANTA (AP) — Bryce Elder pitched scoreless ball into the sixth inning, three Atlanta players homered and the Braves won another series with a 6-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night.

Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley and Matt Olson went deep for the first-place Braves, who took two of three from Miami for their fifth series win. They split their other series, a four-game set at Arizona.

Considered the weak link in the rotation coming into the season, Elder (2-1) lowered his ERA through four starts to 0.77. He limited the Marlins to four hits over 5 2/3 innings, with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Albies put the home team ahead with his fourth homer of the season, a 370-foot drive off Chris Paddack (0-3) that just cleared the right-field wall. The Braves followed with three straight singles, including Mauricio Dubón's run-scoring liner that made it 2-0.

The Marlins appeared to halve the deficit in the fifth when Xavier Edwards was ruled safe at first on an attempted double play with the bases loaded. The Braves challenged, and the call was overturned when the replay showed the throw from shortstop Dubón landing in Olson's glove just before Edwards' cleats landed on first base for the third out.

Riley, off to a sluggish start, tacked on his first homer of the season in the sixth by sending one into the left-field seats off John King. Olson added a two-run homer against Andrew Nardi in the seventh.

Miami's Liam Hicks broke up the shutout in the eighth with a two-run homer. Robert Suárez escaped further trouble with an inning-ending double play, and Raisel Iglesias struck out the side in the ninth for his fourth save.

Marlins: RHP Janson Junk (0-2, 4.32 ERA) will make his fourth start of the season Friday when Miami hosts the Milwaukee Brewers to begin a three-game series.

Braves: After an off day, Atlanta heads to Philadelphia to open a three-game series Friday. LHP Martin Perez (0-1, 3.14) will rejoin the big league roster to go against RHP Taijuan Walker (1-2, 7.36).

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Miami Marlins pitcher Chris Paddack delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)