The Son of White Sox Legend Frank Thomas Is Following in His Father’s Footsteps

There’s a strong case to be made that legendary first baseman Frank Thomas is the greatest player in Chicago White Sox history.

Thomas is the franchise’s all-time leader in home runs, RBIs, doubles, walks, and runs scored. He’s one of only four White Sox players ever to win the American League MVP Award — and he did it twice, in back-to-back seasons (1993 and 1994).

From 1991 to 1997, no hitter in baseball was more dominant than Frank Thomas. Over those seven seasons, he launched 250 home runs and posted a 1.056 OPS, leading the American League in OPS four times and all of baseball twice.

Drafted in the first round of the 1989 MLB Draft out of Auburn University, Thomas was one of those rare White Sox prospects who not only lived up to the hype — he exceeded it, cementing himself as a Chicago sports legend in the process.

White Sox fans still miss those days, and rightfully so. Chicago hasn’t seen a superstar of his caliber since.

But for those nostalgic South Siders, there’s some good news: the next Frank Thomas is on his way to professional baseball.

And I mean that both literally and figuratively.

Frank Thomas III — better known as “Frankie” — is a 16-year-old high school standout and one of the top 100 players in the class of 2027. He currently plays at IMG Academy in Sarasota, Florida, the gold standard for prep baseball in the United States.

Recently, Frankie made it official: he’s following in his father’s footsteps and committing to play college baseball at Auburn University.

The Big Hurt was a two-sport athlete at Auburn, lining up as a tight end for the football team before becoming a first-round pick on the diamond.

Frankie, though, is sticking strictly to baseball — and at this rate, it wouldn’t be a shock if he never makes it to campus.

As a sophomore at IMG in 2025, Frankie hit .544 with 15 extra-base hits at the varsity level. According to Perfect Game USA, he’s a top-100 national prospect with legitimate potential to be drafted out of high school in 2027.

Hitting clearly runs in the Thomas DNA. White Sox fans have never seen a purer hitter — for both contact and power — than Frank Thomas.

And who knows? Maybe following his dad’s path to Auburn is just the start. Maybe someday, Frankie Thomas will suit up for the same South Side club that retired his father's jersey number.