Local Draft pick Fauske has special connection with HOFer Thome

July 15th, 2025

CHICAGO -- Jaden Fauske, White Sox fan, to Jaden Fauske, White Sox stalwart?

Nothing is guaranteed, but the first steps have been taken to execute said plan. Fauske, who played for Nazareth Academy at the high school in LaGrange Park, Ill., located 16 1/2 miles from Rate Field, was selected by the South Siders in the second round of the 2025 Draft on Sunday night with the 44th pick overall.

“It means everything,” said Fauske during a Monday afternoon Zoom. “It means the world to me."

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“He’s a local kid, man,” said White Sox director of amateur scouting Mike Shirley. “I’ve said all along, local kids, we feel they have the ability, the White Sox are going to be in there. This is our city, man. We believe in the people that live here.”

Fauske’s White Sox fandom goes back as long as he can remember, with his dad and brother being diehard supporters. He grew up liking Adam Eaton, Alexei Ramirez, José Abreu, Tim Anderson. Avisail García, and “all those guys,” he added.

There’s also a special connection between Fauske and Jim Thome, who serves as special assistant to White Sox general manager Chris Getz. Some people might know Thome better as the Hall of Famer who launched 612 home runs, including 134 over parts of four seasons with the White Sox, not to mention being one of the classiest individuals to play the game.

Thome also served as an assistant coach for Nazareth baseball, where his son, Landon, is a standout and a teammate of Fauske. It’s not a bad proposition to have Jim Thome giving you baseball guidance.

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“He's the most humble person you'll ever meet,” said Fauske of Jim Thome. “He still hits BP sometimes. He had a fungo bat and he was just launching balls into the forest. I feel like he can still probably hit 20 homers if he wanted to play right now.

“Having Jim in my corner was a blessing. Obviously he's still going to be in my corner. So very grateful for that. Learned a lot from him, how to handle yourself, and to be a good person on and off the field."

Shirley and the White Sox clearly trust Thome’s opinion as much as the young players.

“Jim Thome is a big part of our family,” Shirley said. “We all know the Hall of Famer, what a great man he is. His knowledge about hitting, his comprehension about baseball players. He’s been around the best.”

“It's very rewarding to me to look at this situation and kind of say, ‘Man, it’s pretty special,’” Thome said. “He’s a local kid. But also he’s deserving of this opportunity and being in this spot. That’s what’s great.”

The 18-year-old from Willowbrook, Ill. was named the 2024-25 Gatorade Player of the Year for Illinois and was recommended by White Sox area scout J.J. Lally, who has previously recommended Noah Schultz and Geoge Wolkow. Fauske was one of two high school players taken by the White Sox on Day 1, with shortstop Billy Carlson from Corona High School in California going at No. 10 overall.

At the end of Carlson’s Zoom call Sunday, he was excited to hear the left-handed hitting Fauske was about to become his teammate within the organization. He called him a “dog” in the best sense of the word.

“Super happy to have him as a teammate,” Carlson said.

“Hard worker. Extremely talented left-handed bat,” added Thome of Fauske. “Athlete. Football player at Naz. Really, really good family. Just a wonderful kid. I love the kid. Loves baseball. Loves to work.”

Although he has plenty of time working at catcher, the White Sox intend to start Fauske in center field. Shirley smiled when adding Fauske is willing to do whatever it takes with the White Sox.

During his time at Nazareth, Fauske was part of two consecutive IHSA 3A state titles on coach Lee Milano’s squad. Now, Fauske wants to join up with Thome, and everyone else in the organization, to win at the highest level.

“Winning's the best feeling,” Fauske said. “There's nothing better than that. I was born in 2006, one year [after] the White Sox won it, so we want to bring that back to Chicago.

"I changed my body, cut down a little bit. Increased my mobility and explosiveness, and that really translated on the field for me. It's the leanest I've ever been right now. I worked really hard on that. Lean without sacrificing exit velo or bat speed or anything like that despite dropping a little bit of weight. So I'm really happy with where I am right now."