MINNEAPOLIS — White Sox left fielder Sam Antonacci has been a spark plug at the top of the order against right-handers. In the Sox’ 8-0 victory Wednesday against the Twins, he recorded his fourth multihit game in his last eight.
But he took that even further, reaching base all six times he came to the plate. Antonacci went 4-for-4 with a walk and his 12th hit-by-pitch of the season, tied for the most in baseball. How does he do it?
“He’s just crazy,” said Sox first baseman Jacob Gonzalez, who played with Antonacci in the minors. “Not that he’s playing recklessly, but he plays crazy. Stretching [singles into] doubles, but everyone wants to do that. It’s just that he’s also fast enough to be able to do crazy things. It’s a lot of fun.”
“Just got a lot of good pitches to hit today and got on base,” Antonacci said in the understatement of the day.
Sam Antonacci’s third hit of the day brings the @whitesox lead to 5⃣ pic.twitter.com/9manCdNUDF
— White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) June 3, 2026
He had two doubles, two runs and an RBI. His 13 multihit games are tied for second-most on the team. But he claims it has nothing to do with batting leadoff.
“It’s the same wherever you’re hitting,” Antonacci said. “Seeing the same ball, getting the same pitches. Doesn’t change my mindset. Just trying to get on base for the people behind me.”
One of those people is Gonzalez, who went 2-for-4 for his first career multihit game. He also recorded his first two career RBI on a bases-loaded single in the first inning, when the Sox scored four runs.
It was more than enough for starter Erick Fedde, who didn’t allow a hit until there were two outs in the fifth, and the bullpen. Fedde ended up allowing two hits in five innings before Grant Taylor and Chris Murphy completed the shutout.
But the win might’ve had a cost. After entering the game in right field in the seventh, Derek Hill got hit by a pitch on his left hand in the ninth. He felt good enough to stay in the game — the Sox had no other outfielders on the bench — but he went for imaging after the game and his hand was heavily wrapped in ice.
Mune wins May rookie award
Munetaka Murakami isn’t traveling with the Sox as he recovers from a strained right hamstring, but he still made news by being named the American League Rookie of the Month for May.
“Love that for him, and I love that for us,” Venable said. “So proud of him for the work he’s put in and the performance on the field. He’s very well deserving of that award. He’s contributed in every way possible at the highest level.”
Murakami slashed .244/.382/.556 with eight home runs, 18 RBI, 21 runs and 19 walks in 26 games in May. He led all rookies for the month in homers, runs and walks, tied for the lead in RBI and ranked second in slugging percentage and OPS (.937).
Notes
Shortstop Colson Montgomery returned to the lineup after being given most of the game Tuesday off. He entered as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and got hit by a pitch. Venable said he was no worse for wear.
“It was really a bummer on a day where we’re trying to give him some rest that he comes in and takes one off the knee,” Venable said. “But he’s all right. He’s a young guy that has good, strong bones.”
• Left-hander Noah Schultz isn’t scheduled to throw another bullpen session as he recovers from tendinitis in his right knee.
“No decision on that,” Venable said. “There’s still some soreness in there, so they backed off to give him a little bit of a blow and then ramp back up.”