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The 2026 MLB Draft is full of prospects with Chicago connections. Chris Getz has to nail this draft to accelerate the White Sox’s rebuild.

The Chicago White Sox won the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft lottery last week, and the rights to select the next baseball phenom.

While there is a ton of hype around this draft class, specifically in the first round, this is a deep draft class with lots of future MLB talent.

A recent mock draft by MLB.com ’s Jim Callis has shortstop prospect from UCLA, Roch Cholowsky, landing with the White Sox with the first pick of the draft. This is not a shocking pick at all for many reasons.

What was interesting was who Callis mocked for the White Sox in the second round.

With the No. 41 pick, Callis has Chicago selecting high school infielder Landon Thome.

Who Is Landon Thome?

This is an intriguing pick for many reasons.

Landon is the son of baseball Hall of Fame inductee Jim Thome, who hit 612 career home runs in 22 major league seasons.

The Chicago connection is very much alive for the young Thome, who attends Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park, Illinois, where his father played part of his MLB career.

Landon was also teammates with Chicago’s 2025 second-round selection, Jaden Fauske, who currently profiles as the White Sox’s No. 6 prospect.

While Jim is more well-known for his time with the Cleveland Indians, his time in Chicago was nonetheless memorable.

He played parts of four seasons with the White Sox from 2006-09, hitting 134 home runs with a .933 OPS.

Landon, 18, is currently rated as the No. 42 prospect in July’s MLB Draft, and is labeled as “one of the best all-around hitters in the 2026 high school crop,” per his MLB Pipeline prospect profile.

The left-handed second baseman/third baseman has above-average hitting and power tools, like his father, but his speed, arm, and fielding leave much to be desired. This leads scouts to wonder where he fits defensively at the next level.

More White Sox Connections in 2026 MLB Draft

Landon is not the only prospect in this draft with connections to the White Sox.

Joseph Contreras, the No. 47 prospect in the upcoming draft, is the son of 2005 World Series champion Jose Contreras, who played with the White Sox from 2004-09.

Joseph is a right-handed pitcher who inherited his father’s big frame and propensity for high velocity.

He features four above-average pitches, including a devastating forkball that mystifies hitters, but currently lacks strong control.

Is Cholowsky Generational?

While there is a long wait between now and the MLB Draft, Cholowsky seems to be the overwhelming favorite (for now) to go to Chicago with their first pick.

Cholowsky, 20, has four plus tools, with a 60 hit, power, arm and field tool. While his speed is questionable, he can become an elite shortstop after hitting 23 home runs and posting a 1.190 OPS as a sophomore. His junior year will make or break where he is selected.

Cholowsky is labeled as the best all-around college shortstop prospect in 20 years by many scouts, and has been compared to five-time all-star Troy Tulowitski.

Obviously, things can change between now and July, as they often do. However, Cholowsky seems to be as elite a prospect as it gets.

Matthew Singer Matthew Singer is a sports reporter covering MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2025, and has two years of experience covering local professional, collegiate and high school sports, including writing for Cronkite News and Arizona PBS. More about Matthew Singer

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