GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Jim Thome has high regard for George Wolkow.

Having a Hall of Famer who is considered one of the classiest people in Major League Baseball in your corner certainly ranks as a strong endorsement for the White Sox seventh-round over-slot pick in the 2023 Draft. But Thome’s praise for Wolkow goes beyond his 6-foot-7, 239-pound stature and his immense raw ability.

Wolkow, 18, hit this past offseason with Thome’s son, Landon, who as a freshman last year was an integral part of Nazareth Academy's IHSA 3A state championship. So, Thome had the chance to see Wolkow as a strong person as well as a strong player.

“What I loved is how he kind of took my son under his wing,” Thome told MLB.com. “He treated him really good. And that goes such a long way, right?

“Young kids remember and look up to guys like him, and he’s going to be a great player. We are excited to have him, but more importantly he represents himself, the White Sox, and his family in a wonderful way. That’s what I love.”

Wolkow, the No. 15-ranked prospect in the White Sox system, worked out at a place called Bracey’s Performance in Chicago, and invited Landon to come “check it out,” according to Wolkow. They also hit together in a group at Play Ball USA in Mount Prospect, Ill.

Thome's admiration for Wolkow’s bond with his son was how Wolkow felt concerning his work with the man who launched 612 career home runs and currently serves as the White Sox special assistant to the general manager.

“Just an unbelievable human being,” Wolkow said of Thome. “Then on the baseball side, crazy to stand in the cage with someone who has seen that success. He’s a great person. It’s nice to have someone like that in my corner, rooting for me.”

“There’s that revolving door,” said Thome of the mentorship from Wolkow to his son and him to Wolkow. “Then if I can give him some nuggets on hitting or anything about his next phase in the Minor Leagues, that’s what we do. That’s the fun of this ... to watch the progression.”

To compare Wolkow, still fairly fresh out of Downers Grove North High School in Illinois, to Thome, who had 1,699 career RBIs, 1,583 runs scored, 1,747 walks and a .956 OPS, is patently unfair. The same goes for Wolkow being discussed as the next Aaron Judge, but then again, the Draft world often engenders such comparisons.

For now, Wolkow is in Minor League camp and learning his craft. Thome likes Wolkow, the massive left-handed slugging outfielder, and likes Wolkow, the individual, just as much, but understands he needs time to grow.

“He has to go play,” Thome said. “He’s just gotta get the at-bats. He just turned 18, and it’s just great that he’s going to get that opportunity at such a young age to develop and being in pro ball and go through the things now that he will learn as he goes.

“We observe him, we watch him as an organization and then the game plan every day is to help him. That’s the watching aspect of just seeing how he progresses … He’s special. He’s got the size. He’s got the tools.

“As I said, he’s a wonderful kid,” Thome added. “He’s got a great personality and how he treats people is the thing for me that really stands out.”

That working relationship for Wolkow with Thome has just begun. Actually, it began months ago during the offseason.

“Maybe that torch will be passed,” Thome said. “Now the younger generation can follow and watch what [Wolkow] does in his work ethic.”

“At the end of the day, it’s crazy thinking who it is,” Wolkow said. “He’s an amazing person. You hear such good things, and you meet him, and he might be nicer.”

Which of the following White Sox-related players never hit three home runs in a Major League game? 

A. Rafael Ortega
B. Luis Robert Jr.
C. Paul DeJong
D. Frank Thomas

Bailey Horn has the unique accomplishment of throwing a scoreless Cactus League inning for the Cubs and the White Sox … in the same week. Horn pitched for the Cubs last Friday against the South Siders at Sloan Park, was traded to the White Sox Tuesday for Minor Leaguer Matt Thompson, and then took the mound for the White Sox Thursday at Camelback Ranch.

It was a return to the beginning for the 26-year-old southpaw, who was selected by the White Sox in the fifth round of the 2020 Draft, and then traded to the Cubs for Ryan Tepera in July 2021.

“Things like that happen,” said Horn, whose trade made room on the Cubs' 40-man roster for the return of Cody Bellinger. “I was fortunate to be traded back. 

“I’m super excited. Just got to keep working, keeping after the goal. Got a great clubhouse in here. Excited to be back and get to work.”

• I’ve covered baseball for 22 years, which is 4 1/2 years long than Ethan Salas has been alive. Salas is the Padres’ No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline, who is in big-league camp with the Padres and recently faced the White Sox.

• Jon Stewart is a witty, sharp comedic orator, but his tribute on the Daily Show to his family’s dog who passed away had me in tears.

• Eloy Jiménez is off to a great start offensively. It’s certainly something to watch as the season progresses deeper than the first week of Spring Training.

“What I’m trying to do right now is be careful to not talk about last year. But if we are being honest, it’s in the back of everyone’s mind. You can’t just pretend that it didn’t happen. If we can separate last year from what the goal is this year and have this be a fresh start, that’s the best way to go about a mental approach. It’s not like last year disappeared.” -- Michael Kopech, who makes his Cactus League mound debut today at the Cubs

B. Robert Jr.

Ortega, who is a non-roster invite currently in White Sox camp, launched three homers for the Cubs on Aug. 1, 2021, against the Nationals. DeJong went deep three times against the Pirates with the Cardinals on July 24, 2019, while the Big Hurt did it once for the White Sox and once for the Blue Jays.

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