As the MLB award season continues, manager Will Venable isn’t the only member of the White Sox receiving his flowers after an astonishing bounce-back season. Today, MLB announced the Silver Slugger finalists, with Chicago having the most finalists of any team in MLB. The nominations included four South Siders at their respective positions, along with a club nomination for Offensive Team of the Year.
As a reminder, the Good Guys led the American League in runs scored (776) and RBIs (740), only — and just
barely — trailing the World Series runner-up Tampa Bay Rays (23.8) in offensive fWAR at 23.7. Chicago also mashed 213 home runs (with three players blasting at least 30), ranking fifth in baseball and third in the AL behind the Houston Astros and New York Yankees. The Astros and Rays were both nominated in the team category, with the fourth — and perhaps most surprising — team being the Minnesota Twins. Sox fans already know how pesky the Twins became during the season, which checks out considering Minnesota finished second in the AL with 739 runs scored, behind only the South Siders.
The remaining four nominees were some of the main difference-makers for the Good Guys throughout the season and often found ways to reach base or drive runs in when the White Sox needed it.
Second Base — Chase Meidroth
After narrowly missing — or perhaps even being snubbed — the Gold Glove Award at second base, Meidroth is also being rightfully recognized for his excellent offensive performance this season. In just his second year in MLB, Chase accumulated 4.5 fWAR, which ranked ninth in the American League, and ended the season with a strong .765 OPS (26th in the AL). On top of that, Meidroth posted 31 two-baggers (13th in the AL), 109 base hits (8th) and a .339 BABIP that ranked fourth in the AL and 11th in all of baseball.
Many Sox fans nearly gave up on Meidroth after a poor Spring Training last season, but since he’s been up in the majors, he’s been a key contributor and easily one of the most valuable White Sox players in 2026. Meidroth is up against Kody Clemens, who has a bit more power with 27 bombs to Meidroth’s 16, but he still leads him in most AL offensive categories.
One of my personal favorite Meidroth performances outside of the Wild Card Series dinger was his two-homer game over the Green Monster against the Red Sox, which included a go-ahead two-run bomb in the 10th inning off of Aroldis Chapman. Unfortunately, the Good Guys lost this one, but Meidroth proved he’s a grinder and is ready for any moment.
Third Base — Miguel Vargas
One of the best stories in baseball this season was Vargas. All season, he kept saying that this team allowed him to really love baseball again, and his offensive breakout performance while also being an All-Star in 2026 showed that his talent was always there. Vargas hit 33 home runs, the sixth-most in the American League (12th in MLB), and he was just two bombs behind his teammate Munetaka Murakami with 35. Vargas’ .837 OPS was the eighth-best in the AL, though he scored the second-most runs behind only Randy Arozarena while driving in 93. He was also a menace on the basepaths, and his 22 stolen bases trailed only José Ramírez (32) among third basemen.
Vargas posted 5.3 WAR, tied with Junior Caminero, the other third-base nominee, at the fifth-best in the league. While Yordan Alvarez will likely win MVP — and he should, given the year he’s had — it’s possible Vargas gets some votes, which is a nod to the fantastic year he’s had.
And let’s not forget his no-doubt home run in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game off his former Dodgers teammate Justin Wrobleski. The announcer’s “Oh God” after he smoked that ball is an all-timer.
Outfield — Tristan Peters
Another surprise gem (and All-Star!) that broke out with the White Sox this season was Tristan Peters: our beloved former Savannah Banana. Peters’ season was unprecedented after being traded around the league a few times before landing with the White Sox before Spring Training. The Canadian rookie ranked in the top 20 in the AL in fWAR (3.5) with a .774 OPS and also mashed 31 doubles alongside Vargas and Meidroth. He was consistent all year, racking up three walk-offs, 12 homers and even hitting for the cycle which earned him a beautiful ring from Jerry Reinsdorf.
Peters was also named AL Rookie of the Month in August after mashing six bombs with a .320 average. He blasted five home runs in five games during the last week of the month, including a home run on Players Weekend with the banana bat and a walk-off bomb against the Mets. His five-game home run streak tied the White Sox franchise record and the MLB rookie record for consecutive games with a home run.
Utility — Sam Antonacci
Chicago’s favorite Italian was also recognized for his ability to make things happen and adjust to wherever he was needed all year. As a rookie, Sam Antonacci ranked eighth in the AL in on-base percentage (.370) and 13th in batting average (.277). His OBP benefited from his strangely unrivaled ability to get hit by pitches: His 29 HBP led the American League and trailed only the St. Louis Cardinals’ Iván Herrera in MLB. For reference, he set the White Sox single-season HBP record in August with 24, then got hit five more times in the last month of the season and four more times in the playoffs in just 27 plate appearances.
Antonacci learned left field on the fly, spending most of his time there while also providing elite defense at second base when needed. Antonacci is exactly what you’d expect from a South Side grinder, and he fit in perfectly with this White Sox team in 2026, cementing his value as an MLB player.
For whatever reason, Kevin McGonigle of the Detroit Tigers was nominated at both utility and shortstop, and Ezequiel Duran of the Texas Rangers is the third nominee in this category. Duran was also a phenomenal utility player this year, but Antonacci has definitely made a case for himself to be considered.
