The Chicago White Sox used the No. 34 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft to select Nazareth Academy infielder Landon Thome, the son of Hall of Famer Jim Thome.
As expected, the Chicago White Sox got their guy.
With the 34th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, the White Sox selected Nazareth Academy infielder Landon Thome, the son of Hall of Famer and former White Sox slugger Jim Thome.
Chicago acquired the Competitive Balance Round A selection from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night in a trade that sent infielder Jacob Gonzalez and left-handed pitcher Brandon Eisert to Pittsburgh. The White Sox also received minor league left-hander Jaden Woods in the deal.
It was a significant price for Chicago to pay, but the White Sox clearly had a plan for the additional draft pick and bonus pool money. From the moment the deal went down, it had Landon Thome written all over it. He was a player the White Sox publicly coveted but was not guaranteed to remain available until Chicago got back on the clock. The White Sox converted, completing the deal by landing one of the best high school hitters in the class.
Thome’s selection also continues an organizational trend of targeting prep talent with strong ties to the Chicagoland area.
Thome is an 18-year-old left-handed hitter from Nazareth Academy, where he played high school baseball alongside White Sox outfield prospect Jaden Fauske. Thome batted .533 with eight home runs, 35 RBIs, 49 stolen bases and a 1.676 OPS during his senior season, establishing himself as one of the most productive high school players in the country.
Jim Thome is not just an MLB Hall of Famer and a beloved member of the White Sox alumni community. He is also currently employed by the organization as a special assistant to general manager Chris Getz. But make no mistake about it, Landon Thome’s selection is entirely warranted.
He was the No. 34 overall prospect in the 2026 draft class, and he went 34th overall.
Thome has a smooth left-handed swing, excellent pitch recognition and an advanced understanding of the strike zone for a high school hitter. He consistently finds the barrel, makes hard contact and uses the entire field. There is also more power projection remaining in his six-foot, 185-pound frame as he continues to develop physically.
MLB Pipeline gave Thome above-average grades of 55 for both his hitting ability and power. His combination of bat-to-ball skills, plate discipline and offensive upside gives him a chance to develop into an impact hitter, regardless of where he eventually plays defensively.
