White Sox Unleash Power Surge in Dominant Spring Training Win Over the Cubs

The Chicago White Sox entered the 2026 spring training with modest expectations and an understanding that a long developmental road still lies ahead. But if their explosive performance against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park is any indication, the club’s young talent may be closer to turning a corner than many expected.

Their 8–1 blowout victory featured booming home runs, promising at-bats, and impressive flashes from some of their most intriguing prospects — the kind of momentum-building showcase a rebuilding team dreams about in February.

Friday’s contest in Mesa, Arizona felt like the unveiling of a new offensive personality. The White Sox, who have struggled to generate consistent power in recent years, wasted no time demonstrating their revamped lineup. Newly signed outfielder Austin Hays debuted as the No. 3 hitter and immediately made his presence felt.

Serving as one of the few veteran voices in a youthful clubhouse, Hays stepped in after strikeouts from Curtis Mead and Kyle Teel — and promptly obliterated the first pitch he saw.

Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon delivered a four-seam fastball that caught far too much plate. Hays, who recognized it instantly, launched it an estimated 428 feet into deep left-center. His confident bat flip was the punctuation mark on a swing that symbolized both leadership and authority.

It was the type of veteran moment the White Sox envisioned when they added Hays to help guide their next wave of core players.

But the fireworks didn’t stop there. In fact, Hays’ long ball merely lit the fuse for the younger hitters to follow. Manager Will Venable penciled in second-base prospect Sam Antonacci for the starting lineup — a bold nod to a player who climbed rapidly through the farm system last season.

Antonacci rewarded that trust with a towering two-run blast in the second inning, providing his own emphatic introduction to the big-league stage.

After centerfielder Derek Hill drew a walk, Antonacci battled through a pair of strikes before connecting on another Taillon four-seamer. Statcast measured his home run at 417 feet with a blistering 109.5 mph exit velocity.

It looked less like a spring training swing and more like something pulled straight from a Home Run Derby highlight package — a sign of the raw, untapped power evaluators have long believed he possesses.

The White Sox quickly extended their early 3–1 advantage, and their confidence grew with every pitch. Former Rays prospect Tristan Peters added to the tally in the third inning by driving in designated hitter Korey Lee, pushing the lead to 4–1.

Each inning felt like a glimpse at a potential future core: power, patience, and youthful aggression.

The fourth inning then brought one of the afternoon’s most anticipated moments — the arrival of Japanese superstar Munetaka Murakami with the bases loaded. Considered a franchise cornerstone and one of the most talented hitters to join MLB from Japan in years, Murakami stepped in with an opportunity to announce himself in grand fashion.

While he narrowly missed a grand slam, the result was still impactful thanks to a bit of Arizona sunshine.

Murakami smashed a deep drive to right field that appeared catchable for Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki. But Suzuki lost the ball in the bright desert glare, allowing two additional runs to score. Even without the home run, Murakami’s ability to drive the ball with authority was evident.

His first official hit as a member of the franchise came an inning earlier — a 108.3 mph single rifled into right field, demonstrating the kind of elite bat speed Chicago hopes will anchor their offense for years to come.

By the time the eighth inning arrived, fans were treated to yet another exciting young player making noise. Top prospect Braden Montgomery entered the game in the fifth, initially striking out in his first plate appearance. But his second trip to the batter’s box showcased the dynamic tools that make him one of the most hyped young outfielders in baseball.

Following a walk by Darren Baker, Montgomery turned on a slider and sent it soaring over the centerfielder’s head.

The result was an RBI triple that brought Baker home easily and allowed Montgomery to glide into third standing up. It was the type of electric, game-shifting moment scouts crave from young talents — combining speed, power, and instinct in a single sequence.

While he is not expected to break camp with the major-league roster, Montgomery’s development remains one of the White Sox’s highest priorities entering 2026.

Meanwhile, starting pitcher Jonathan Cannon delivered a mixed performance, though his outing contained enough positives to likely earn him additional spring opportunities. Cannon pitched 1.2 innings, surrendering an early home run to Suzuki and issuing one walk.

However, he also struck out three batters, showing improved command of his off-speed pitches and the poise needed to compete for a rotation spot.

Chicago’s dominance continued throughout the remainder of the game, as their young hitters stayed patient, their depth shined, and their enthusiasm poured through every inning. The 8–1 win may only represent one exhibition matchup, but for a franchise still navigating its broader rebuild, performances like this are meaningful markers of progress.

For the White Sox, this spring is less about immediate results and more about collective identity formation.

Beyond the final score, the biggest takeaway from Friday’s contest was the clear presence of foundational building blocks — Murakami, Antonacci, Montgomery — who displayed early flashes of the offensive upside the organization urgently needs. Combined with steady veteran leadership from Hays and emerging contributors like Peters, the White Sox finally appear to have the makings of a balanced, improving roster.

Manager Will Venable’s lineup choices underscored his commitment to integrating youth early and often.

The next step comes quickly. The White Sox return to action tomorrow at Camelback Ranch for a matchup against the Oakland Athletics, where even more familiar faces are expected to make their spring debuts. Fans will have their first look at additional top prospects, bullpen hopefuls, and several free-agent additions still ramping up for game action.

It marks another opportunity for Chicago to reinforce the momentum they created in their spring opener.

While a single spring training victory does not define a season, the combination of power, discipline, and prospect production displayed in Mesa provides a welcome jolt of optimism. The White Sox remain in the early stages of a long-term build, but Friday’s offensive explosion served as a loud reminder — both to themselves and the league — that their future core is beginning to take shape.

And if this young group continues to produce like they did against the Cubs, 2026 may become a turning point rather than another rebuilding chapter.