​Ohio State recruit Landon Thiel did not hear his name called during the two-day MLB Draft, which concluded on Sunday, July 12. The Jackson High School product and Buckeyes signee entered the draft ranked 182nd by MLB.com even after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow just last month. The 18-year-old left-hander had been drawing attention for his dramatic development over the past year, and many hoped his recent arm surgery would not derail his professional aspirations.
Thiel’s draft status stood in contrast to a Jackson teammate who did hear his name called on Sunday. Catcher Garrett Wright, a 2023 Jackson graduate, went in the eighth round, 229th overall, to the Los Angeles Angels. Wright’s selection marked the first Jackson product drafted in this year’s cycle, but Thiel’s absence left many curious about what comes next for the big, 6-foot-7 left-hander from Stark County.
Over the last year, Thiel’s profile as a prospect surged as he transformed his body and raised his velocity. He increased his weight from 205 pounds to about 230, and his fastball jumped from the 86-89 mph range to 91-93, with a peak around 95 mph. That improvement, along with enhanced secondary offerings and a more mature presence on the mound, helped him emerge as a rising name in high school to college discussions.
During his senior season at Jackson, Thiel went 6-0 with a astonishing 0.95 ERA, helping the Polar Bears share the Federal League championship and reach the regional round of the playoffs. He struck out 101 batters across 44 innings, while limiting opponents to a .079 batting average. His dominant performance earned him several prestigious accolades, including Federal League Pitcher of the Year, Northeast Ohio Division I Pitcher of the Year, and First Team All-Ohio recognition. As a four-year varsity contributor for Jackson, Thiel accumulated a Jackson-record 295 strikeouts, posted a 24-3 record, and logged a 1.39 ERA.
Tragedy and injury began to shadow Thiel’s promising season as the year progressed. He began experiencing stiffness and pain in his left forearm, and an MRI following Jackson’s district championship revealed a torn UCL. The Mayo Clinic in Minneapolis, with Minnesota Twins team physician Dr. Christopher Camp, performed reconstruction surgery on Thiel on June 16. The procedure was deemed successful, and Thiel, who is expected to be back on the mound in roughly 10 months, plans to return as a collegian with Ohio State.
Thiel’s recovery and potential return to pitching will be closely watched by fans and scouts alike as he navigates the path from high school star to professional or collegiate pitcher. While the draft did not yield a selection for the towering left-hander, his documented progress, resolve, and prior accomplishments have kept him on the radar for both the Buckeyes and MLB organizations.
For more updates and ongoing coverage, reach Josh at josh.weir@cantonrep.com or follow on X at @jweirREP. This article originally appeared in The Repository.