Like his former Nazareth teammate Jaden Fauske, Landon Thome is staying home.
Thome, whose Hall of Famer dad Jim hit his 500th career home run for the organization he now works for, was picked 34th overall by the White Sox in the MLB Draft on July 11.
The infielder was one of three players with local ties selected in the first two rounds. Outfielder Zion Rose, who started his high-school career at Brother Rice before moving on to IMG Academy in Florida and Louisville, went sixth overall to the Kansas City Royals. Right-handed pitcher Jack Slightom of Lyons also went to the Royals at 56th overall.
One more local player was picked on the draft’s second day, July 12, with Northwestern outfielder and Brother Rice graduate Jack Lausch going 512th overall in the 17th round to the Cincinnati Reds.
And yet another Rice graduate, Kentucky third baseman Luke Lawrence, signed with the White Sox as an undrafted free agent.
Thome’s selection came a day after the White Sox acquired the 34th pick in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, moving their second selection up seven spots from No. 41. With Thome ranked in the mid-30s in most mock drafts, all signs pointed to the Sox picking him a year after they selected Fauske 44th overall.
Fauske is a rookie outfielder at Single-A Kannapolis, where he’s already set the franchise single-season record for triples.
His mom, AnnMarie, was at a draft watch party Nazareth hosted at Stadium Club at the Max in McCook.
She definitely was experiencing some deja vu.
“Oh gosh, so much angst, excitement,” she said while waiting for Thome to be selected. “So excited for the families and all of Nazareth because they’re such a part of the family and helping these boys do their best. Just wonderfully excited for Landon.”
Nazareth coach Lee Milano watched the draft broadcast with Thome and his family.
“Obviously, you have very little say-so on who’s gonna take you and how that’s all gonna play out,” Milano said. “But … if he had to write the script, I think this would be a great way to write (it). …
“It’s definitely a surreal moment and obviously very emotional for everybody involved — mom (Andrea), dad, Landon. … When he FaceTimed Jaden shortly after, it was really cool.”
Thome was the Southwest Regional Player of the Year and Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior. A four-year starter, he hit .422 across 155 career games with the Roadrunners to go along with 166 runs, 85 extra-base hits, 117 RBIs and 108 stolen bases.
He was the White Sox’s second pick of the draft; as expected they took UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky first overall. Those two were scheduled to throw out first pitches when the Sox host the Athletics on July 12 in their final game before the All-Star break.
Next up for Thome is to decide whether to sign with the White Sox or head to college; he’s committed to Florida State. But the money that will go to the draft’s 34th pick — and the chance to one day put on the same uniform his dad wore — would be hard to pass up.