Thome to Sox was destiny. Next mission: Winning ring that eluded HOF dad

CHICAGO – Landon Thome was born to be part of the Chicago White Sox.

That statement is literally not an exaggeration.

When Hall of Famer Jim Thome launched his 500th home run in walk-off fashion against the Angels’ Dustin Moseley on Sept. 16, 2007, Andrea Thome was pregnant with Landon. In fact, Landon was born two months later to the day.

Now the Thome family baseball prophecy has been fulfilled. Landon was selected with the 34th pick overall by the White Sox in the 2026 Draft and met with the media prior to Sunday’s first-half finale against the A’s at Rate Field. At just 18, Landon was engaging, polite, focused and driven to help the White Sox win a World Series championship. He also sounded just like his father.

Sitting a few feet to Landon’s right in the White Sox dugout was his proud father. Watching from the dugout railing was Landon’s equally proud and elated mother.

“It’s a dream come true,” a beaming Landon said. “I’ve been growing up coming to games here since I was a little kid. And to be able to hear my name called by the White Sox, it’s really a dream come true. I’m just ready to get to work and do everything I can to help the city and help this team.”

“I was always able to keep it together as a player. This is tough. This is so special,” Jim said. “What a day, just to watch your son go through that, his name be called, it’s a dream come true, right?”

Jim had the pleasure of working with Landon at Nazareth Academy in LaGrange Park, Ill., serving as an assistant coach on Lee Milano’s staff. He also lends his considerable expertise to the White Sox as a special assistant to general manager Chris Getz.

From 1991-2002, the elder Thome tormented the White Sox by launching 337 of his career 612 home runs with Cleveland. He joined the White Sox via a trade with Philadelphia prior to the 2006 season, and while he added 134 homers and a .933 OPS with Chicago, Thome was a championship individual who was never part of a championship team.

This career omission is one of the many driving forces for his son.

“I grew up wanting to put up a banner somewhere because my dad never got to,” Landon said. “That’s something I dream about every day, to be able to win a World Series. And especially for this city. That’s the dream. That’s all I can say, dream come true. Absolutely.”

“The main thing is to keep them loving the game,” Jim said. “When they love the game, and if the skill set is something that’s there, then as they grow a little older and their strength and the maturity happens, that’s when you start seeing the improvement. That’s the case with Landon.”

White Sox action begins for Landon this Thursday in Charlotte as the White Sox hold a Draft camp running through Sunday. He didn’t need to wait to meet Roch Cholowsky, the No. 1 overall pick in the Draft, as they each threw out a first pitch Sunday afternoon as a potential future double-play combination.

Cholowsky tossed to Harold Baines, a Hall of Famer and the last No. 1 overall pick for the White Sox in 1977. As for Landon?

Well, he threw the ceremonial first pitch to his dad, with the two embracing in front of home plate. Landon was wearing that familiar jersey No. 25 at the ballpark.

“Whatever number they give me, but 25 would be pretty cool,” said Landon with a smile. “That’s the number I wore my whole life. That would be a blessing, absolutely.”

“There was a moment you had to step back and go, ‘Is this happening?’” said Jim, when asked what it was like for him and his wife to walk on to the field Sunday with Landon. “It’s really cool. It is.”

At that point, Jim became emotional. Emotional in the great way when something truly wonderful happens for your child, your family.

“He was so excited,” said Landon of Jim. “I was saying that was probably the most nervous I’ve ever seen him yesterday. All our family, I tried to keep as relaxed as possible even though I was feeling those nerves, too. When we got that call and he told me we were going to be a White Sox, it was a flood of emotion.”

“I think the biggest thing is to know that you’re a dad first,” Jim said. “Sometimes there’s times when you just kind of don’t speak. Understand that there are those roller-coaster rides, and when it’s time to work, the relationship that you build as a father, though, you have forever.”