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MLB·BREAKING·July 11, 2026 04:39 PM ET

White Sox draft Landon Thome, son of Jim Thome, with pick acquired from Pirates

Thome's son joins the White Sox at pick No. 34.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jul 121 min read
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What happened: The White Sox selected infielder Landon Thome, son of Hall of Famer Jim Thome, with the 34th overall pick in the 2026 draft. Chicago acquired the pick in a trade that sent Jacob Gonzalez and Brandon Eisert to the Pirates. Thome, an infielder out of Nazareth Academy, was ranked the top shortstop prospect in Illinois.

Why it matters: GM Chris Getz made the trade after believing Thome would not be available at Chicago's original second-round slot, No. 41. The White Sox already used their first-round pick on shortstop Roch Cholowsky, giving the organization two young infielders in the same draft class. Thome's ability to play second and third base adds flexibility alongside a lefty bat.

By the numbers: Thome hit .533 with a 1.676 OPS as a senior at Nazareth Academy, adding eight home runs, 35 RBIs and 49 stolen bases. He walked 30 times against 12 strikeouts for a .630 on-base percentage. Prep Baseball ranked him 19th among all draft-eligible prospects nationally.

What to watch: The White Sox will work to sign Thome before the draft deadline as he begins his path through Chicago's farm system.

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