The minute sports fans found out there was a new American pope and he’d been born in Chicago, every American sports fan had one thought: was he a Cubs or White Sox fan?

Soon, news emerged that he was a White Sox fan — not without a false report, however, that he was a Cubs fan — and shortly thereafter footage emerged that not only was the newly christened Pope Leo XIV a fan, he’d been in the stands for the 2005 World Series, which the White Sox won in a series sweep.

Pope Leo, born Robert Prevost, was elected as pope in May of 2025 and then one month later it was announced that my Vanderbilt law school friend and classmate Justin Ishbia was buying the Chicago White Sox.

The two of us were chatting about fun ways Justin could introduce himself to Chicago sports fans and I tossed out an idea — we should travel to the Vatican and invite Pope Leo to throw out the first pitch at a planned new White Sox stadium.

After all, Pope Leo was a big enough White Sox fan that he’d attended the World Series 20 years ago as a fan in the crowd. Sure, he’s the pope now, but deep down he, like all of us, is a diehard sports fan.

We were both convinced the idea was a good one, but it presented a challenge: how do you get a meeting with the pope to invite him to throw out the first pitch?

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An Invitation to the Pope 

It’s not like you can just call the Vatican and ask to speak to the pope’s people.

Ultimately we hit on our answer: Vatican ambassador Brian Burch, who lived in Chicago with his family prior to his confirmation as ambassador.

Luckily, Ambassador Burch loved the idea and, this morning in Vatican City, Justin and his wife Kristen met the pope, delivered a team autographed 2005 White Sox World Series replica jersey, and conveyed the first pitch invitation to Pope Leo, who said yes so long as his schedule permits. (It turns out the pope is kind of busy).

So, the result, as many of you have likely seen on social media already, is an awesome one — the first ever American-born pope will be throwing out the first pitch in a new Chicago White Sox stadium, which will potentially mark the first time the pope has visited Chicago since 1979.

Let’s hope it’s a strike.

And that Pope Leo can help return the magic of the 2005 season for White Sox fans.

Four years of basketball excellence for Jason Crowe Jr. of Inglewood High is leading to scoring records. The record broken on Monday was the Southern Section’s all-time career scoring mark after Crowe scored 43 points in his season opener against Lynwood.

He started this season 328 points away from the state record. On Monday, Inglewood’s head coach, Jason Crowe Sr, called timeout when the Southern Section record was broken. Jarod Lucas of Los Altos, also the son of the head coach, Jeff Lucas, held the old record of 3,356 points.

“I’m glad it’s over with. On to something else,” Jason Sr. said. “I’m definitely proud of the hard work he’s put in and the way he’s led his team. His career has been a statement.”

Jason Jr. is committed to Missouri, and his entire family is expected to join him, so this final season in Southern California will be a memorable one.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

An MLB prospect is under “intensive medical care” after a car crash in the Dominican Republic that killed three people.

Antonio Jimenez, a 24-year-old pitcher in the San Francisco Giants farm system, fractured his femur and spine and suffered “several” lacerations as a result of the Monday morning crash.

An SUV collided with two scooters in front of an Altice office building in San Pedro de Macoris, according to a local outlet.

“We are aware of the tragic car accident involving one of our players, Antonio Jiménez, and are in the process of gathering more information,” the team said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Out of respect for everyone affected and due to the ongoing investigation, we will refrain from further comment at this time.”

“Our prayers are with our pitcher Antonio Jiménez, who suffered several injuries in a regrettable traffic accident,” Jimenez’s Dominican Winter League team, Toros del Este, said on X. “We extend our condolences and prayers to the families of the victims who lost their lives in the incident.”

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Prospect Savant lists Jimenez as the Giants’ 31st-ranked prospect.

Pitching for the team’s Triple-A affiliate this season, he recorded a 3.55 ERA with opponents hitting .217 off him in 45.2 innings pitched. He struck out 27.9% of the batters he has faced but walked 17.3% of them.

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Jimenez has been in the minor leagues since he was 18, beginning as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He joined the Giants ahead of this past season.

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