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.