Landon Thome experienced the thrill of throwing out a first pitch at the Chicago White Sox game Sunday. The recent Nazareth Academy graduate hopes to return fairly soon on a more permanent basis. The infielder was drafted No. 34 overall by the White Sox during the second round of the Major League Baseball draft Saturday.
Before the Sox defeated the Athletics 9-1, Thome shared the spotlight with Roch Cholowsky, the UCLA shortstop and No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
“When I think about it, growing up, watching the White Sox play since I was a little kid, they’re always on at our house so to be a part of this now, it’s a dream come true,” Thome said Monday. “The flood of emotions was crazy these last two days but now I’m so excited to get to work.”
Thome, who signed to play at Florida State, now leaves Wednesday night for Charlotte, home of the White Sox Class AAA affiliate, and then to Arizona for spring training camp. Jim Thome, Landon’s father, is a MLB Hall of Famer who played for the White Sox from 2006-09. He currently works for the organization as special assistant to the general manager.
“It’s surreal for it to happen (like this),” Nazareth baseball coach Lee Milano said. “I don’t think people really understand how difficult it is to get drafted, especially as a prep player, but for anyone. To get highly drafted, your hometown team, you could not have written a script like that. It is awesome.”
Drafts rarely go as expected and many teams had continued interest in Thome, the Roadrunners’ shortstop this spring. The White Sox already had the No. 41 pick but added selection insurance Friday by acquiring No. 34 in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
When the moment came, Thome shared the excitement at his Burr Ridge home with family, Milano and about 20 other friends.
“I knew (the White Sox) had a little interest going into draft day but I had no idea until about 10 picks before,” Thome said. “That’s when I kind of got let known it was going to be the White Sox and I was so excited.”
This past season, Thome was named the Gatorade Illinois Player of the Year, first team All-America and first team Class 4A all-state for the second time. This year he had a .532 batting average with eight home runs and 32 runs batted in as the leadoff hitter. He also had single-season records with 63 runs scored, nine triples and 54 stolen bases in 56 attempts. He holds seven career records – doubles (48), triples (19), walks (97), runs (166), RBIs (117), stolen bases (108) and at-bats (438),
The four-year starter was second baseman for Nazareth’s 2023 Class 3A state championship team.
“He made incremental gains year to year I’ve never seen. He worked his butt off and kept getting better,” Milano said. “He was an elite player as a freshman but he still made unbelievable gains to put himself in a position to be a first-round draft pick. He’s the son of a Hall of Famer and you never see any arrogance out of that kid. He’s going to be a success whatever he does because of the person he is. He gets that from his mom (Andrea) and dad.”
For Thome, the draft story is two-fold. Jim Thome shared his getting drafted in 1989 by the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) in the 13th round (No. 333). Their scout discreetly asked Thome at a ballpark if the Illinois Central College freshman would sign if drafted.
“He was like, ‘Well, I’ve got to talk to my parents first and all that,’” Landon Thome said.
Landon was quite young when Jim Thome’s 22-season MLB career ended in 2012, but they enjoy watching Jim’s mammoth home run in Game 5 of the 1995 World Series. His 612 career home runs rank No. 8 all-time.
Jim Thome coached Landon growing up and then joined Nazareth’s coaching staff during Landon’s tenure.
“He’s had so much (influence) from the dad perspective and the coach perspective. I’d say he’s my hero,” Thome said. “Just being able to play for him and have him in the dugout to talk whenever I wanted to with tips maybe other dads might not have. It’s special to have him through the whole high school scene and he’ll be with me wherever I go next.”
Then there’s 2025 Nazareth graduate Jaden Fauske, who was last season’s Gatorade Illinois Player of the Year and drafted by the White Sox in last year’s second round (No. 44). The outfielder is excelling at Class A Kannapolis.
“I’ve been texting him. I FaceTimed him right after the name had been called,” Thome said. “It’s going to be awesome to be reunited with him and get back working together.”
They are the two highest among eight Nazareth players who have been drafted, following Cooper Malamazian, Ryan Smith, Michael Prosecky, Derek Salata, Brandon Bossard and Mike Spidale. 2024 graduate Malamazian currently plays for Indiana University.
“It’s special for the kids to have back-to-back top picks. I don’t know how much more blessed we could be as a school and staff to have those kids around,” Milano said.
“Coach Milano, he’s been like a second dad to me almost,” Thome added. “I told him I’m going to miss when he’s throwing (batting practice) at Naz.”