Having too many good players is not a bad problem to have. It’s not a problem the White Sox have had to think about much in recent years, but it’s a sign that times are changing on the south side. In Sam Antonacci and Chase Meidroth, the White Sox have a pair of young contact-oriented position players in the midst of a breakout season. As the 2026 season comes to an end and the focus shifts to 2027 shortly, is there room on the White Sox for both in the team’s future plans? Let’s talk about it.
We’ll start with Chase Meidroth, whom the White Sox acquired from the Red Sox in the Garrett Crochet deal and made his big league debut in 2025. Meidroth showed flashes during his rookie season, but ultimately posted just modest numbers. In 122 games in 2025, Meidroth slashed .253/.329/.320 with five home runs and a .649 OPS. With a glut of infielders near the big league level, some speculated that Meidroth would need to perform or risk losing his job moving forward, and perform he has. In 150 games so far in 2026, Meidroth has tripled his home run total and increased his OPS to .744, nearly a 100 point improvement.
Chase Meidroth hammers home run No. 15! pic.twitter.com/nxNUIssH9D
— MLB (@MLB) September 20, 2026
Pairing Meidroth’s offensive improvement with his strong defense (10 OAA) at second base has made him one of the more valuable players on the team, and his 4.1 fWAR trails only Miguel Vargas among White Sox players.
In Sam Antonacci, the White Sox have another young position player who has had a strong year at the dish. In 135 games at the big league level, Antonacci is hitting .270 with eight homers and a .754 OPS. He’s been a sparkplug at the top of the White Sox lineup for the majority of the season and has done so while learning to play outfield for the first time. Defensively, Antonacci doesn’t grade well in left field, though it’s his first time playing the position at the professional level. Those defensive questions are likely the biggest recent for the uncertainty about his future with the White Sox.
The White Sox may have to choose between Antonacci and Meidroth in the future
The Meidroth-Antonacci tandem has worked great for 2026, but there are questions about it’s long-term sustainability. Antonacci is much better suited to play infield in the long run, but the White Sox don’t really have a place to put him there at the moment. Top prospects Caleb Bonemer and Roch Cholowsky are coming, and Bonemer has even begun to play the outfield to put himself in a position to reach the big leagues quicker. With Braden Montgomery improving and an excellent season from Tristan Peters in center, the most natural spot for Bonemer may be in left, leaving Antonacci without a home. There's always the possiblity he improves his defense in left, but it's not a guarantee.
Perhaps Antonacci ends up in a platoon situation or as a utilityman. There’s a place on just about any roster for a player with his skillset. But a trade of either Antonacci or Meidroth is an option the White Sox could keep on the table. Good teams sometimes trade away good players to add pieces that fit the roster better, and the White Sox could explore that possibility with either Antonacci or Meidroth. I’m not suggesting they shop either player, but there’s nothing wrong with exploring the market.
As Antonacci and Meidroth continue to excel in the White Sox lineup and be part of the reason for the team’s success, the White Sox can continue focusing on their short-term contributions. Deciding on the roster for 2027 and beyond isn’t a process that needs to begin yet, but White Sox fans will want to keep a close eye on Meidroth and Antonacci when it does.
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