Antonacci’s hit-by-pitch – Sam Antonacci has been hit by pitches eight times in 26 games, driving his .389 on-base percentage and helping the White Sox post baseball’s best team on-base mark at .353 since April 17.
When Sam Antonacci got plunked again, he didn’t flinch from the moment. Instead, he treated the sting as part of the job—something that keeps his bat from being the only route to getting on base.
The White Sox rookie has been hit by pitches eight times in just 26 games since arriving in the majors. “It’s not the most fun,” Antonacci said Friday, “but it’s fun getting on base.”
For Antonacci, a walk is valuable, and so is a hit-by-pitch. The numbers have made that feel less like a saying and more like a strategy that’s reshaped his role early in his career. Heading into Friday’s game against the Cubs, his .389 on-base percentage led the White Sox.
Since April 17—the day he was hit for the first time as a big leaguer—the White Sox have posted the best on-base percentage in baseball at .353.
Manager Will Venable said Antonacci’s knack for reaching isn’t an accident. “That’s part of his game. It’s a real skill that he’s got,” Venable said. “He gets on base a ton. Some of it is by hit by pitch. He sticks his nose in there and is not backing away. It’s part of who it is.”
That willingness was on display again in Wednesday night’s win over the Royals, when Antonacci was hit one night after White Sox pitchers hit a pair of Kansas City batters in the same game. Intentional retaliation? Nobody needs to say it that way for the message to land.
Antonacci said the latest plunking left more than just a mark.. “That one hurt a little bit more the other night,” he said.. “Some people were saying it was on purpose, but I’m all for that.. That’s how baseball should be played.. That’s how it was back in the old days.. I know we let two pitches go away and hit two of their guys.. I’m glad they picked me.”
Sam Antonacci White Sox hit by pitch on-base percentage Will Venable Chicago Cubs Kansas City Royals Munetaka Murakami Shota Imanaga Seiya Suzuki Davis Martin