Jack Slightom expected to be taken during the first day of the Major League Baseball draft Saturday but didn’t anticipate having trouble finding out.
“We couldn’t get (MLB.com) pulled up,” Slightom said.
When Slightom was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the second round with the No. 56 pick overall, the recent Lyons Township High School graduate still was as surprised as the more than 50 guests for a draft party at his home in Willow Springs.
“When I found out is when everyone else found out. I didn’t know before at all,” Slightom said. “(Being drafted) was awesome. When I found out I got picked, I didn’t really know before, like it came out of nowhere.”
The right-handed pitcher’s dedication and huge progression senior year paid off in becoming the fifth LTHS player to be drafted. When the news came, Slightom was upstairs in his room talking back and forth with his agent. He returned downstairs to rousing cheers from family and guests.
“The biggest thing (I’ll remember) is walking down the stairs and seeing my name on my phone (with the news),” Slightom said. “I was still upstairs so I walked down and everyone cheered and that type of thing.”
The 6-foot-5, 215-pounder had signed with the University of Cincinnati but now will report this week to Arizona for spring training and sign with the Royals, a member of the American League’s Central Division along with the Chicago White Sox.
“It was exciting. I’m just really happy for him and really proud of him,” said LTHS baseball coach Kevin Diete, who attended the draft party. “It was just really cool to be part of that experience. To see him get a call and get drafted, that’s every kid’s dream. And when you get to see it come true, it’s special.”
As the Royals’ third overall selection, Slightom was projected certainly to be among the top 100 picks and as high as top 50. Diete said excitement grew as pulling up MLB.com became difficult.
“I kind of knew I was going to fit somewhere in between 30 and 65. (It was where) and what team.” Slightom said.
This past season for the Lions, Slightom was named third-team All-America and Class 4A first team all-state in helping the Lions shared their first West Suburban Conference Silver Division title since 2019. Slightom was 7-0 with a 0.38 earned-run average in 37.1 innings. He struck out 73 of the 130 batters he faced with seven walks.
He had a solid junior year (5-4, 3.38 ERA, 49 strikeouts in 42.2 innings) but also played other positions, including catcher. He became pitcher-only going into his senior year while gaining height and weight and greater control of his pitching repertoire.
His already potent fastball also increased from 89 to 92 miles per hour and now reaches into the mid- and occasionally high-90s.
“He has a feel for his change-up, slider and command of his fastball, which is the best trait that he has,” said Royals assistant scouting director Brian Bridges.
“He really focused on improving his accuracy on off-speed pitches and both of those complement his fastball,” Diete said. “If you can throw those for strikes with a 95-mile fastball, you’re going to be tough to hit.”
Slightom gained additional poise and confidence in pressure situations from becoming the Lions’ starting quarterback this past season. Diete, also an assistant varsity football coach, said Slightom also progressed from the challenges and adversity of being the scout team quarterback his junior year.
“That was a special team (in 2024) and he experienced a lot of failure on the scout team. I think that kind of fueled and motivated him and humbled him to get better,” Diete said. “I think he took that same attitude to baseball and got better in all aspects. (Playing both sports) helped each other out.”
The Royals drafted 21 players, 16 of them pitchers. No. 449 15th-round pick Madden Clement, a left-hander from Virginia Tech, is the son of Matt Clement, who pitched for the Chicago Cubs from 2002-04.
During one scouting trip, Bridges encountered Jim Thome, MLB Hall of Famer and father of recent Nazareth Academy graduate Landon Thome, who was selected No. 34 by the White Sox Saturday.
Slightom and Landon Thome played youth baseball together several years with Jim Thome as a coach. Bridges asked Jim Thome for thoughts on Slightom.
“(Jim Thome says), ‘He’s always thrown strikes, even as a kid,’” Bridges said. “(Slightom) has an advanced feel for throwing strikes and he has such a baby face. I told him it’ll be great when you finally shave the first time you’re pitching in Kauffman Stadium (the Royals’ home ballpark).”