The 2025 Arizona Fall League was a showcase for the Chicago White Sox, thanks to a trio of prospects who arrived in the desert with very different expectations. Hagen Smith, the lefty with a first-round
pedigree, was already a headline name. Outfielder Braden Montgomery, armed with immense talent but fresh off recovering from a broken foot, viewed the AFL as a chance to get his legs back under him and get some additional at-bats. Meanwhile, infielder Sam Antonacci entered camp quietly, a player known more for polish than flash, but determined nonetheless.
Smith didn’t waste any time. One of the best pitchers of the fall, firing mid-90s fastballs and a nasty sweeping slider to keep righthanders at bay. Over five starts, Smith plowed through lineups like a seasoned vet. His final line (14 IP, 2.57 ERA, 0.929 WHIP, 13.5 K/9, 3.9 BB/9) told a tale of a hurler who is gaining more confidence and finding his footing on the mound. The walk rate is still a headache and higher than I’m sure Brian Bannister and Co. would like, but there’s still a whole winter and spring to iron out the details.
Montgomery, by contrast, made a lot of noise with the bat. Coming off a successful minor league season, where he slashed .270/.360/.440 with a .804 OPS, he quickly moved through and rose to the challenge at three different affiliates. The switch-hitter’s tenure in the desert started a bit later than most due to the injury recovery. Still, by the end of the AFL, Montgomery was one of its premier offensive performers, ending his time in Arizona with a bang: .366/.527/.634 and an impressive 1.161 OPS over 12 games and 55 at-bats. Given his performance in both the regular season and the AFL, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Montgomery in Chicago — if not on Opening Day, then not long after.
If Smith brought the electricity and Montgomery brought the thunder, then Antonacci provided the metronome. He simply found ways to get on base. In an interview with Baseball America in late October, White Sox farm director Paul Janish said that Antonacci made a “strong early impression” in Arizona with his competitive at-bats and very consistent approach. Janish noted Antonacci is not a power hitter but has “advanced plate discipline,” and he rarely chases out of the zone. The Coastal Carolina alum is the kind of player who just keeps climbing through the system because he never stops giving teams reasons to believe in him. His consistent production made him one of the AFL’s most reliable infielders. He finished out hitting .378/.505/.541 with a 1.046 OPS in 19 games and 93 plate appearances. Steady as they come.
Altogether, the trio gave the White Sox one of the best prospect showings of any organization this autumn. Smith’s dominance, Montgomery’s resurgence, and Antonacci’s grinding painted a picture of a farm system beginning to turn a corner. As the AFL wrapped up and the desert cooled, Chicago fans could be left with something they hadn’t felt in a while — true, tangible optimism for the future on the South Side.
