Tim Elko Bio
Timothy John Elko (born December 27, 1998) is an American professional baseball first baseman in the Chicago White Sox organization. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Chicago White Sox in 2025. Elko was selected by the White Sox in the tenth round of the 2022 MLB Draft after a standout collegiate career at the University of Mississippi. He has represented the United States in international competition, winning a gold medal at the 2024 WBSC Premier12 tournament in Tokyo.
Early Life and Background
Elko attended Hillsborough High School in Tampa, Florida, where he developed his skills as a baseball player. His performance in high school earned him recognition as a promising prospect for collegiate baseball.
After graduating from high school, Elko continued his baseball career at the University of Mississippi, where he played for the Ole Miss Rebels. He was a member of the Rebels’ historic 2022 National Championship team, contributing to one of the most successful seasons in program history. Between the 2019 and 2020 collegiate seasons, Elko played summer baseball for the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders of the Northwoods League, a prestigious summer collegiate baseball league known for developing professional prospects.
Path to Professional Baseball
Elko’s performance with the Ole Miss Rebels, including his role on the 2022 National Championship team, caught the attention of Major League Baseball scouts. His combination of power hitting and defensive ability at first base made him an attractive prospect in the 2022 MLB Draft.
The Chicago White Sox selected Elko in the tenth round of the 2022 MLB Draft. After signing with the organization, he began his professional career in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League before earning promotions through the minor leagues at a rapid pace.
Tim Elko Career
Minor League Development (2022–2024)
Following his selection in the 2022 MLB Draft, Elko was assigned to the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League White Sox, where he began adjusting to professional pitching. He was later promoted to the Single-A Kannapolis Cannon Ballers to continue his development.
Elko returned to Kannapolis at the start of the 2023 season and quickly established himself as a power hitter, batting .297 with 17 home runs and 57 runs batted in across 66 games. His impressive performance earned him a promotion to the High-A Winston-Salem Dash, where he continued to produce at a high level, hitting .319 over 31 games. He received another promotion to the Double-A Birmingham Barons of the Southern League, continuing his ascent through the Chicago White Sox farm system.
Triple-A Charlotte and MLB Debut (2024–2025)
Elko began the 2024 season with Birmingham and continued his strong offensive production, batting .289 with nine home runs over 91 games. His consistency earned him a promotion to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, where he faced competition in the International League.
On May 10, 2025, Elko was selected to the Chicago White Sox 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time in his career. The following day, he hit his first career home run off Sandy Alcántara of the Miami Marlins, marking a significant milestone in his professional journey. Elko appeared in 23 games during his rookie campaign with the White Sox, batting .134 with a .328 slugging percentage, four home runs, eight runs batted in, and one stolen base.
Notable Events and Milestones
Elko’s first MLB home run against Sandy Alcántara represented the culmination of his rise from the tenth round of the 2022 Draft to the major leagues. His international experience includes representing the United States at the 2024 WBSC Premier12 tournament in Tokyo, where he helped secure a gold medal for Team USA.
Tim Elko Career Statistics
Elko has built a reputation as a power-hitting first baseman throughout his minor league career, demonstrating the ability to hit for average and power at each level of the Chicago White Sox organization.
Major League Baseball Highlights
During his rookie season with the Chicago White Sox in 2025, Elko appeared in 23 games and recorded a batting average of .134 with a .328 slugging percentage. He hit four home runs and drove in eight runs while also recording one stolen base. His debut home run came against Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcántara on May 11, 2025.
Minor League Highlights
Elko’s minor league career was characterized by rapid advancement through the Chicago White Sox system. His standout season came in 2023 with the Single-A Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, where he posted a .297 batting average with 17 home runs and 57 runs batted in over 66 games. At the High-A Winston-Salem Dash level, he batted .319 over 31 games before his promotion to Double-A Birmingham.
| Level | Team | Games | AVG | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | Chicago White Sox | 23 | .134 | 4 | 8 |
| MiLB (2023) | Kannapolis Cannon Ballers | 66 | .297 | 17 | 57 |
Tim Elko Injury and 2025 Season Outlook
The 2025 season ended prematurely for Elko when he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee. On October 29, 2025, it was announced that he would miss at least eight months after undergoing surgery to address the injury. The ACL tear occurred during the final stretch of his rookie campaign, interrupting what had been a promising start to his major league career.
Following the injury, the Chicago White Sox non-tendered Elko on November 21, 2025, making him a free agent. However, he quickly re-signed with the organization on December 14, 2025, agreeing to a minor league contract. This deal allows Elko to continue his rehabilitation with the White Sox system and work toward returning to major league competition.
Elko’s future outlook remains positive despite the injury setback. The re-signing indicates the organization’s continued confidence in his abilities as a power-hitting first baseman. As he progresses through his rehabilitation, Elko will look to build upon his professional career and contribute to the Chicago White Sox roster once he receives medical clearance.