Sam Antonacci’s international baseball legacy is on center stage in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The Chicago White Sox infielder’s MLB career is not too far away.

Antonacci is playing the biggest game of his young career today. A win over favored Puerto Rico will put him and Team Italy into a truly bigger game in the semifinals.

“Just to go out here with these guys, it means more than you can think,” Antonacci told reporters after hitting a home run in Italy’s shocking 8-6 upset of Team USA in Pool B play earlier this week.

"We all have the same mindset. We don’t need all the bells and whistles. We’re a gritty group, I would say and we just love playing baseball.

“I think that showed tonight, just doing the little things right. We’re looking to win, we’re here to play and we’re just here for the love of the game.”

Italy advanced to the quarterfinals by mashing Mexico, 9-1. Antonacci’s heads-up play without touching the ball in the field got rave reviews.

Mexico’s Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox hit a fly ball to left-center field with Joey Ortiz of the Milwaukee Brewers on first base. Ortiz was running with the pitch. As he approached second base, shortstop Antonacci took a fake dive toward the bag to trick Ortiz into thinking the ball was on the ground and headed to center field. Ortiz scrambled towards third base. Jakob Marsee caught the pop-up and Ortiz was easily doubled off first.

Spring Forward In Fall

Hit rewind to last November when Antonacci hit .378 in the Arizona Fall League. In a brief conversation then, he said essentially the same things about his game.

“I’m just trying to take advantage of everything out here because I just love baseball,” he said. “I’ve got so much to learn and what a great atmosphere this is to do it. I’m getting to play and when I don’t, I get to watch other players from other organizations and learn. I get to pick the brains of coaches, teammates, sometimes opponents. I love it.”

If it sounds like he has a memorized speech, it isn’t. He’s genuine despite seeming at times to be two different people. On the field, the 5-11, 185-pounder plays with passion and fire. Of the field, he is thoughtful, introspective and calm.

He went 28-for-74 with 3 homers, 14 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 19 AFL games, helping the Glendale Desert Dogs win the championship. He also drew 15 walks to 11 strikeouts. When added to his minor-league totals, he has 101 walks t0 97 strikeouts since signing with Chicago.

“Ah, the ball just flies better out in the desert,” he said of his power surge after totaling five in 116 games during the 2025 minor-league season.

He had five games of three hits and it was his walk-off sacrifice fly that won the Fall Stars Game, 5-4. He adroitly avoided teammates seeking to douse him in celebration.

Quite A Hit

Not only does Antonacci pile up hits (.298 average in 139 MiLB games), he got hit by pitches a whopping 39 times in 2025.

That’s a throwback to when other scrappy infielders took their lumps to get on base. Combined with his bat-to-ball skills and all-out hustle, he has the “Pete Rose Mindset” that scouts, managers and fans love.

Hall of Fame infielder Hughie Jennings, a pugnacious 5-foot-8 infielder in the late 1800s, holds the record for most times being drilled in a season (51 in 1896) and career (287). Jennings later managed the Detroit Tigers to three consecutive AL pennants (1907-09).

Second on the career list is Craig Biggio, the Houston Astros’ second baseman/catcher/outfielder who got plunked 285 times on the way to the Hall of Fame.

Second on the single-season list is Ron Hunt. The Montreal Expos’ second baseman was hit 50 times in 1971. He’s sixth on the career list with 243 over 12 seasons with five teams.

Guys don’t seem to take one for the team as much anymore. Outfielder Starling Marte, who recently signed as a free agent at age 37 with the Kansas City Royals, is the active leader with 166 hit-by-pitches over 14 seasons.

Antonacci’s Resume

Scouts love the lefty’s ability to put the ball in play. Fans fawning over the long ball say who cares. MLB execs counter with, “we do.”

Antonacci led Division I with a .367 average at Coastal Carolina in 2024 when he typically had more walks than Ks (50-to-40) with only 6 homers but 47 RBI in 61 games.

Chicago selected him in the fifth round that summer with pick No. 140 overall. Nineteen players chosen at No. 140 have played in the majors, including sluggers Ryan Howard (382 homers, Philadelphia Phillies’ pick in 2001) and Eric Karros (284 homers, Los Angeles Dodgers’ choice in 1988).

Antonacci got $500,000 to sign. He’s proven to be a solid defender at short, second and third with an average arm. He’s got average speed, though his high IQ for the game has enabled him to swipe 66 bases in 81 attempts since signing.

Antonacci’s Future With Chicago White Sox

General Manager Chris Getz recently said the 23-year-old “likely” will begin the 2026 season in the minors. It likely will be at Triple-A Charlotte.

Manager Will Venable loves Antonacci’s high energy. When asked by James Fegan of Soxonline.com about players who are constantly on the move, Venable said: “We love to see it. When we think about the identity we’re trying to create, he does those things naturally.”

Antonacci hit the weight room this winter like he hits everything else – hard. Early in spring training he got his career-high exit velocity of 109.5 mph on a home run.

He’s among a good group of prospects the organization believes will lead the team out of three consecutive 100-loss seasons. There’s a lot of competition for jobs and right now Antonacci is just another guy in the jumbled mix.

Three of the most beloved infielders in team history had Antonacci’s A-plus attribute of hustle. Luke Appling, Luis Aparicio and Nellie Fox all had the uniform numbers retired. All are in the Baseball Hall of Fame. In a combined 57 MLB seasons, that trio reached double-digits in homers once – when Aparicio hit 10 in 1964.

Sam Antonnaci may never make a big impact in MLB, let alone approach those three Chicago White Sox mighty mites. That doesn’t mean he won’t give it his best shot.

What do Duke, Arizona and Michigan all have in common when it comes to March Madness? They’re all contenders to be the No. 1 overall seed in this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

In addition to the bragging rights of being declared the top-ranked team in the country, the No. 1 overall seed has the ability to choose its preferred region and first-/second-round site.

Of course, being the No. 1 overall seed doesn’t guarantee ultimate victory in the tournament. The last three No. 1 overall seeds to win the championship were UConn in 2024, Louisville in 2013 and Kentucky in 2012. Last year’s winner, the Florida Gators, were the No. 4 national seed.

Every round a team survives through, however, does earn more than $2 million for its conference paid out in annual increments over the next six years. The NCAA hasn’t released the value for this year’s unit, but it will be at or above last year’s $347,275 value. Presumably, the higher your seeding, the better your chance at earning those units for your conference.

Prior to this year’s tournament, teams received a unit for every game played through the Final Four, with no additional units for appearing in the championship game. However, in January, NCAA members voted to add an additional three units each to the men’s and women’s basketball distribution funds. That allows the championship contenders to each earn a unit, plus an additional unit with be awarded to the national champion team.

As is the case with the College Football Playoff, some schools will take home more than others thanks to conference revenue distribution policies. For example, the Big 12 and Big Ten didn’t give teams participating in the CFP any kind of bonus, instead dividing all revenue from the playoffs equally between members.

The SEC, however, gave a bonus for each round of the CFP and do the same for the men’s basketball tournament. Each SEC team receives one payment of $100,000 for appearing in the Preliminary, First, and/or Second Round, an additional one payment of $125,000 for appearing in the Regional Semifinals and/or Regional Finals, and an additional one payment of $300,000 for appearing in the Final Four.

Last year, the SEC had a record number of teams in the tournament, with 14 of its 16 teams in the bracket. Those teams went on to play 35 games leading up to the championship, earning 35 units worth approximately $70 million for the conference, the highest total in history.

Who will win both on and off the court this season? It won’t be long before it’s time to fill out those brackets and see how it all unfolds.

The Philadelphia Phillies have a long list of superstar players returning for next season, from Bryce Harper to Zack Wheeler, but fans of the franchise hold a special place for some of their predecessors.

As the team’s incumbent stars prepare to take at least one more shot at a World Series title, the leading members of the team’s 2008 championship roster continue to celebrate their lasting legacies.

Most recently, that meant a “Wall of Fame” announcement for former Phillies infielder Chase Utley.

“The Phillies are inducting Chase Utley, considered the greatest second baseman in the franchise’s history, into their Wall of Fame this summer — a potential precursor to a greater honor for Utley, the National Baseball Hall of Fame,” Matt Gelb reported for The Athletic. “One of the most popular players in Philadelphia history, Utley spent 13 seasons with the Phillies.”

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Philadelphia Phillies Legend Chase Utley Rejects Offer To Return To Team

Utley enjoyed six All-Star appearances and four Silver Slugger Awards in his time with the Phillies, which included the franchise’s most recent championship title as well. But after his time with the Phillies was done, Utley joined the Los Angeles Dodgers for four seasons to end his career.

And now, Utley, who is a native of Southern California, has returned to the Dodgers despite a job offer from the Phillies.

Following his playing career, Utley moved to England to serve in an ambassadorial role for Major League Baseball. Returning from Europe, he has taken a front office position with the Dodgers even though the Phillies wanted him back.

“The Utleys are back from England, back to living in the Los Angeles area, where Chase grew up and went to college,” Scott Lauber reported for The Philadelphia Inquirer. “The Phillies wanted to find a role for him. Instead, he took a job with the Dodgers: special assistant to president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.”

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Philadelphia Phillies Wall Of Fame Player Chase Utley Describes Role With Los Angeles Dodgers

The exact nature of Utley’s role with the reigning World Series champion wasn’t clear, but he did emphasize that it gives him a chance to balance work and family.

“It’s giving back to the game a little bit, trying to help them in whatever aspect is possible,” Utley said of his job with the Dodgers, per Lauber. “I get to sleep in my own bed every night, so that’s nice.”

And it seems that, ultimately, he wants to make his home in the region where he grew up rather than in the Philadelphia area where he enjoyed the best seasons of his playing career.

HIGHLIGHTS

• A contract signing turned into one of the most violent segments of the year, and the road to the main event just got personal in a hurry.
• A former champion walked out of SmackDown saying he quit, but the story did not end there.
• The full WrestleMania 42 card features four world championship matches across two nights with a major open challenge still unanswered.

Thanks to Randy Orton, the Road to WrestleMania 42 just got kicked into high gear. Orton decimated Cody Rhodes at a contract signing for their WM 42 main event in one of the most savage beatdowns in recent memory on WWE programming.

In case you missed it, here's proof of the savagery.

As it is, we didn't see a ton of new matches added to Night 1 or Night 2 of WrestleMania 42, but we do have more layers. Here is a look at the confirmed card along with detailed viewing info for both nights.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Event: WrestleMania 42
• Dates: Saturday, April 18 (Night 1) and Sunday, April 19 (Night 2)
• Start Time: 6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CT / 3 p.m. PT (both nights)
• Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
• How to Watch: ESPN Unlimited (full event); ESPN2 (Night 1 first hour free); ESPN (Night 2 first hour free); Netflix (international markets)

What Happened With Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes on SmackDown?

The Undisputed WWE Championship contract signing went sideways fast. Orton and Rhodes shook hands, then Orton hit a low blow and went to work.

He threw Rhodes across the announce desk, busted him open, propped steel steps against the table, and drove Rhodes' head into them. He shoved Jelly Roll out of the way to continue the assault.

Officials rushed down, but the damage was done. Orton sat with the title as SmackDown went off the air. Full heel turn complete, although I really wish it had been Cody who turned.

What Did Drew McIntyre Do on SmackDown?

McIntyre opened the show by confronting SmackDown GM Nick Aldis about losing the title to Rhodes last week. When Aldis called out the hypocrisy and Jacob Fatu came out, McIntyre told everyone he quit.

He was not done, though. McIntyre returned later to attack Fatu from behind during a match against Trick Williams, hitting a Claymore Kick. The "quit" is a storyline device, and McIntyre vs. Fatu remains the expected WrestleMania 42 match per multiple reports.

What Is the Full WrestleMania 42 Confirmed Card?

• Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton
• World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Roman Reigns
• WWE Women's Championship: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
• Women's World Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv Morgan
• Open Challenge: Brock Lesnar vs. TBA (announced by Paul Heyman; Lesnar appears on Raw March 16)
• Expected: Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu (reportedly set per PWInsider, not yet officially confirmed)

How Can You Watch WrestleMania 42?

Both nights stream live on the ESPN Unlimited app ($29.99/month). The first hour of Night 1 airs free on ESPN2, and the first hour of Night 2 airs free on ESPN. A Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited bundle runs $35.99/month. Xfinity, Spectrum, DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, and Fubo subscribers can authenticate ESPN Unlimited through existing packages. Internationally, WrestleMania 42 streams on Netflix.

On Thursday, the first draft in X Games history saw 40 skateboarding and BMX athletes be selected to compete in the new X Games League.

The first four X Games Clubs of X Games League’s summer season—XC Los Angeles, XC New York, XC São Paulo and XC Tokyo—each selected 10 athletes, five men and five women, to represent their clubs in the league’s inaugural season.

Events will include X Games Sacramento (June 26–28), X Games Japan (July 4–5) and the inaugural X Games Championship event in New Orleans on July 24–26, where the club with the highest total points will be awarded the league title and team championship prize purse at Caesars Superdome.

More than 180 skateboarders and BMX athletes were eligible to be drafted on Thursday by general managers Steve Rodriguez (XC New York), Sharalee “Haze” Hazen (XC Los Angeles), Harumi Suzuki (XC Tokyo) and Bob Burnquist (XC São Paulo). More than 50 attended the draft at Cosm in Los Angeles.

With the first overall pick, XC New York selected 16-year-old Australian skateboarder Chloe Covell, who has earned eight X Games medals (five golds) since her debut in 2022.

“I’m so excited,” Covell said after she was selected No. 1 overall. “I was really nervous, but I’m super grateful. I definitely didn’t think this was going to happen, but it’s amazing. It definitely shows all of the hard work I put in. I’m looking forward to having fun with my team and doing my best.”

With its first pick, XC Los Angeles selected 17-time X Games medalist skateboarder and Southern California native Tom Schaar.

XC Tokyo drafted eight-time X Games gold medalist skateboarder Arisa Trew. To close out the first round, XC São Paulo fittingly selected Brazilian skater Gui Khury, who has the most medals of any teenager in X Games history, with 15.

The full rosters for each of the four X Games League summer clubs can be found below. The league will expand to winter disciplines in 2027.

If new sports are added to the summer season, a new draft will be held at that time. If new teams eventually join the league, there is a process in place for an expansion draft.

The 40 athletes who were drafted range in age from 11 to 35 and hail from eight countries. XC Tokyo is by far the most regional team, with eight of 10 athletes representing Japan. XC São Paulo is next, with five Brazilians. Interestingly, XC New York features four Californians, while XC Los Angeles has two.

X Games League Summer Club Rosters

XC New York Roster

Pick No. 1: Chloe Covell, 16, Australia (skate)

Pick No. 8: Nyjah Huston, 31, USA (skate)

Pick No. 12: Hannah Roberts, 24, USA (BMX)

Pick No. 13: Logan Martin, 32, Australia (BMX)

Pick No. 19: Ginwoo Onodera, 16, Japan (skate)

Pick No. 22: Momiji Nishiya, 18, Japan (skate)

Pick No. 26: Daniel Sandoval, 31, USA (BMX)

Pick No. 31: Bryce Wettstein, 22, USA (skate)

Pick No. 33: Tate Carew, 21, USA (skate)

Pick No. 40: Heili Sirvio, 14, Finland (skate)

XC Los Angeles Roster

Pick No. 2: Tom Schaar, 26, USA (skate)

Pick No. 7: Liz Akama, 17, Japan (skate)

Pick No. 9: Felipe Mota, 19, Brazil (skate)

Pick No. 16: Perris Benegas, 30, USA (BMX)

Pick No. 20: Lilly Erickson, 16, USA (skate)

Pick No. 21: Marcus Christopher, 23, USA (BMX)

Pick No. 27: Brady Baker, 23, USA (BMX)

Pick No. 30: Cocona Hiraki, 17, Japan (skate)

Pick No. 34: Dashawn Jordan, 29, USA (skate)

Pick No. 39: Mia Kretzer, 11, Australia (skate)

XC Tokyo Roster

Pick No. 3: Arisa Trew, 15, Australia (skate)

Pick No. 6: Sora Shirai, 24, Japan (skate)

Pick No. 10: Kevin Peraza, 31, USA (BMX)

Pick No. 15: Mizuho Hasegawa, 15, Japan (skate)

Pick No. 17: Rim Nakamura, 24, Japan (skate)

Pick No. 24: Coco Yoshizawa, 16, Japan (skate)

Pick No. 28: Moto Shibata, 30, Japan (skate)

Pick No. 29: Miharu Ozawa, 16, Japan (BMX)

Pick No. 35: Toa Sasaki, 19, Japan (skate)

Pick No. 38: Yumeka Oda, 19, Japan (skate)

XC São Paulo Roster

Pick No. 4: Gui Khury, 17, Brazil (skate)

Pick No. 5: Sky Brown, 17, Japan (skate)

Pick No. 11: Ryan Williams, 31, Australia (BMX)

Pick No. 14: Ibuki Matsumoto, 14, Japan (skate)

Pick No. 18: Queen Saray, 22, Colombia (BMX)

Pick No. 23: Garrett Reynolds, 34, USA (BMX)

Pick No. 25: Giovanni Vianna, 25, Brazil (skate)

Pick No. 32: Gabriela Mazetto, 28, Brazil (skate)

Pick No. 36: Luigi Cini, 23, Brazil (skate)

Pick No. 37: Raicca Ventura, 19, Brazil (skate)