Jim Thome's Son Landon Selected by White Sox in 2026 MLB Draft, Joins No. 1 Pick Roch Cholowsky

The Chicago White Sox opted for a familiar name with their second pick on the first day of the 2026 MLB draft.

The organization kicked off the event by taking UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky. The White Sox followed that by selecting prep shortstop Landon Thome 34th overall.

The 18-year-old is the son of Hall of Famer Jim Thome, who played four seasons for the White Sox.

Thome batted .535 with seven home runs and 29 RBI as a senior at Nazareth Academy in Illinois.

While he hits lefty like his decorated dad, that's where the similarities mostly end.

The elder Thome was a third baseman early in his MLB career before moving over to first permanently. Landon is likely to slot into a spot on the left side of the infield or could occupy second.

He may not have his dad's raw power, either.

MLB.com gives Thome 55-grade hit and power tools.

"Thome turns his left-handed swing loose with maximum intent but has the pitch recognition and bat-to-ball skills to make a lot of hard contact," his scouting report said. "His stroke has loft geared to drive balls in the air and he has tapped into more power as he has improved his strength and bat speed. His pure hitting ability may stand out a little more than his pop, but both grade as at least solid."

The White Sox opted for the safer choice when they took Cholowsky instead of high school shortstop Grady Emerson, who went second to the Tampa Bay Rays. That gave them a little more room to bet on Thome's upside and that of second baseman Cole Prosek, another prep player, in the second round.