​PEORIA — Landon Thome, continuing a family legacy tied to Peoria, found his path to professional baseball closer to home in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday. The son of Peoria native and Baseball Hall of Fame slugger Jim Thome was selected in the Competitive Balance A round, 34th overall, by the Chicago White Sox. The draft began with the first four rounds on Saturday, with rounds 5 through 20 scheduled to conclude the event on Sunday morning.
Landon Thome, who has committed to Florida State, profiles as a left-handed hitter with notable power and a solid exit velocity, averaging 91.1 mph. His background includes impressive high school credentials: he starred at Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park, where he earned the 2026 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year honor after a senior season in which he batted .535, scored 57 runs, and set a school record with 49 stolen bases in 50 attempts. The athletic lineage in his family is well documented, as Jim Thome, a longtime cornerstone of the Cleveland franchise during his Hall of Fame career, also spent four seasons and 529 games with the White Sox on his journey to an MLB career total of 612 home runs. Jim Thome continues to contribute to baseball from the White Sox front office, serving as a special assistant to general manager Chris Getz.
The impact of Landon’s selection resonated in the broader draft picture as other teams announced their picks. In St. Louis, the Cardinals selected outfielder Trevor Condon in the first round (13th overall). Condon, a left-handed hitting senior from Etowah High School in Georgia, joined the organization alongside the Cardinals’ other selections, including University of Tennessee right-handed pitcher Tegan Kuhns, chosen 32nd overall as a Competitive Balance A pick. The Cardinals landed several other players, including Caden Ferraro, a left-handed hitter who plays first base and outfield, taken in the third round (86th overall) out of Texas Tech. The group of seven Cardinal selections, which included five college players, could potentially contribute to the Peoria Chiefs in the future, as several may end up spending time in Peoria during the season.
The Chicago Cubs also made an impact on day one, selecting right-handed pitcher Cade Townsend from Mississippi with their first-round pick (23rd overall). In the second round, they chose left-handed hitting outfielder Caden Sorrell, a Texas A&M junior, at 62nd overall. Chicago’s six picks on day one came entirely from the college ranks, indicating a strategy focused on college-level talent and potential immediate contribution. The Cubs’ full list of first-day selections is available through team outlets and draft coverage.
For Peoria and the surrounding Illinois baseball community, Landon Thome’s selection is particularly meaningful. It highlights the ongoing connection between Peoria, its local baseball culture, and the broader professional landscape, underscoring how the legacy of a hometown hero can inspire the next generation of players. Jim Thome’s longstanding ties to the game, his influence within the White Sox organization, and his continued presence in the sport serve as a backdrop to Landon’s MLB Draft moment and the potential for future crossovers between Peoria’s baseball programs and Major League Baseball.
This article originally appeared in the Journal Star and was written by Dave Eminian, a senior writer and sports columnist who covers Bradley men’s basketball, the Rivermen, and the Chiefs. The piece also notes Eminian’s Cleve In The Eve column for pjstar.com and provides contact information and social media handles for readers seeking more coverage.