White Sox legends' sons are taking the next step in their baseball careers, with Owen Konerko the latest to make his college decision.
We’ve been seeing a recent wave of White Sox legends back in the news — because their kids are starting to make headlines of their own.
Joseph Contreras, son of 2005 World Series champion and former White Sox pitcher José Contreras, recently committed to play his college ball at Vanderbilt University. A 2026 high school graduate, Joseph will head to one of the premier pitching-development programs in the country.
Then there’s Frank Thomas III, following in his father’s footsteps — and his name. The son of Hall of Famer “The Big Hurt” recently committed to Auburn University. Perfect Game America praised Thomas for his familiar “big bat speed and serious power," but unlike his dad, it comes from the left side of the plate.
Or even Landon Thome — a high school teammate of recent White Sox second-round draft pick Jaden Fauske at Nazareth Academy. Fauske was drafted straight out of high school in the 2025 MLB Draft, and Thome, one year behind him, has already made a name for himself. He’s committed to the University of Tennessee and ranks inside Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects for the 2026 MLB Draft.
And now comes Owen Konerko, son of White Sox legend Paul Konerko. Owen just announced his commitment to the University of Michigan — unless, of course, he gets drafted out of high school like his dad once did back in 1994 and decides to turn pro.
Konerko is currently ranked as the top third baseman in the state of Arizona and the No. 4 overall player in a region loaded with amateur talent. While he’s listed as the No. 169 high school prospect in the 2027 class — a bit outside the typical draft range — he still has two full seasons to climb the boards.
Prep Baseball Report describes him as “known for his high-level bat speed and serious raw power,” noting that he “consistently posted exit velocities in the hundreds, peaking at 103.5 mph” and “launched towering shots over the left-center wall that turned heads throughout the event.”
Sounds a lot like his dad. Maybe power just runs in the name.
The kids of the 2005 champions are growing up, and baseball fans are getting another generation of familiar names to root for. Who knows — maybe one day, the names Contreras, Thomas, Thome, and Konerko will all share a diamond again, this time as the next wave of South Side stars.