As the new season gets underway, the White Sox have chosen their team mantra for 2026, one I believe is very fitting: “Momentum.” Capitalizing on a youth movement that saw 11 rookies make appearances, the White Sox head into a pivotal season that could go a plethora of ways. To compete for a playoff spot in the near future, multiple members of this current group will have to take major steps forward for the South Siders this season.
There is a high chance, however, that contributions will come from some call-ups the White Sox will make, as well as other players coming out of nowhere to figure it out in the minors and find themselves moving up prospect boards. There are players at all levels with major upside who may come into their own in 2026; here are three of them who could not only break out, but also make an impact on the 2026 White Sox squad.
William Bergolla Jr. (2B/SS)
AAA – Charlotte Knights
William Bergolla Jr. takes after his father, William Bergolla Sr., as a quick, contact-first hitter who excels defensively. After a decent season in Birmingham and a great spring, where he earned a spot on the All-Spring Breakout First Team, it was announced that he had earned the promotion to Charlotte.
Bergolla’s game is contact-driven. Last season in Double-A, he struck out only 26 times, leading the Southern League by a wide margin. To show just how wide the margin was, Bergolla Jr. could have doubled that total and still struck out seven times fewer than second place on the list.
As a player, he feels like Luis Arráez, with less contact skill and more tools elsewhere. Arráez is a true savant, while Bergolla struggles to find singles as frequently. His lefty swing generates little power, but allows him to find the base paths often enough to show his highly touted IQ with great speed, where last season he swiped 27 of 33 bags.
Pairing this with his great defensive ability leaves a lot to be excited for as the White Sox wait to see what he is capable of.
Bergolla Jr. continues to take big steps forward, posting a .314 average in spring and getting off to a very hot start in AAA with a slash line of .542/.607/.708 through 24 at-bats. It appears that with a few more paces on the walk to his full potential, we may see him in black and white pinstripes soon. If hitters like Chase Meidroth and Luisangel Acuna don’t take the necessary steps forward to earn consistent playing time at the top of the order, I would not be surprised if management looks to Bergolla Jr.’s contact in Charlotte and attempts to hone him to be a true lead-off hitter. Hopefully, the Valencia, Venezuela native continues to do whatever he can to force the issue to bring him up to the big leagues.
Sam Antonacci (2B/SS/LF)
AAA – Charlotte Knights
While probably a little less refined than William Bergolla Jr., White Sox fans fell in love with Sam Antonacci during the World Baseball Classic. Antonacci, a member of Team Italy, contributed to the Italian squad in their Cinderella run that was ended in the semifinals by eventual champions Venezuela. He put up a .105/.261/.368 slash line in a very small sample size, where he walked a lot at the top of the order.
The Illinois native showed struggles against major league pitching in the WBC but fought in ABs, seeing plenty of plate appearances exceed the six-pitch mark. When he got on, he was also a dangerous runner, stealing bases and scoring plenty. Antonacci struggled to get hits, but his most memorable moment of the tournament was adding onto a lead against Team USA, mashing a two-run bomb off Mets pitcher Nolan McLean.
In the tournament, we also saw all of Antonacci beyond the stat sheet. He describes himself as a “boring” baseball player, but he is anything but. He began his career at Heartland Community College, leading them to the 2023 D2 JUCO championship, also earning JUCO’s player of the year award. That energy he brings has been a constant since that point. In the WBC, we saw him fight for difficult grounders, putting the deke on runners, and sprinting for his life on the bases. Antonacci’s great feel for the game helps him get good jumps and promotes his hyper-aggressive play style.
If there was an archetype for the young Illinois shortstop, it would be ‘spark plug.’ His tools do not jump out on paper, but that constant, unrelenting energy provides a battery to lineups. He understands what he can and cannot do, which means development in his tools could turn him into a superstar at the MLB level, where we also may see him this season for the White Sox. He had a fantastic spring and earned his promotion to Charlotte to start the season.
Antonacci playing left seems to make him the more likely candidate for a call-up between himself and Bergolla Jr. Since the season has started, he has made his way onto Baseball America’s Top-100 Prospect List and has gone yard twice. He sits at a cooler .346/.528/.432 slash, but in a strange MLB outfield, he may force his way into Chicago first.
Tanner McDougal (RHP)
AAA – Charlotte Knights
I know referring to Tanner McDougal, MLB.com’s sixth overall White Sox prospect, as a breakout candidate is odd. However, I believe McDougal’s spring shows us signs that he may find his way to the majors sooner and better than most expect.
McDougal carries an arsenal headed by a missile of a fastball that peaked at 101 mph last season. He is extremely similar to Grant Taylor, from his high-velocity fastball to his wipeout slider. His fastball velocity is maintained throughout his starts, leading me to believe that, if his command continues to improve, he will be a solid MLB starter for a White Sox squad that may be looking for new faces if some arms do not pan out as hoped.
He earned a promotion to Charlotte from Birmingham after a good spring, where he showcased some improved control. His spot in the Majors depends on whether he can succeed in MiLB’s very own ‘Coors Field’ with how well the ball travels in coastal Charlotte.
Through two starts now, McDougal has touched 100 MPH and notched a 2.00 ERA through nine innings, all within the bandbox that is Charlotte. Through those innings, he has also collected 11 strikeouts, allowing only four hits but eight free passes. Work is to be done, though if he stays here as innings ramp up, he will be in Chicago in no time.
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Featured Image: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
