White Sox's Drew Thorpe: Requires season-ending surgery
Rotowire
The White Sox announced Sunday that Thorpe will undergo season-ending surgery Saturday in San Francisco to remove a bone spur in his right elbow, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
On the shelf since Aug. 2 with what the White Sox had labeled as a right flexor strain, Thorpe appeared to be gearing up for a late-season return after he began a throwing program in mid-August. Thorpe never advanced beyond playing catch before the bone spur was detected in his elbow, and while the issue isn't a significant one, he'll opt to treat the injury with surgery rather than attempting to pitch through it. Thorpe is expected to be fully cleared in advance of spring training, when he'll look to solidify a spot in the White Sox's Opening Day rotation. The 23-year-old righty went 3-3 with a 5.48 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 25:21 K:BB in 44.1 innings over his first nine big-league starts before landing on the injured list.
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White Sox's Drew Thorpe: Routed by Royals
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Thorpe (3-3) took the loss Wednesday, coughing up six runs on seven hits and two walks over five innings as the White Sox were downed 10-3 by the Royals. He failed to strike out a batter.
The rookie right-hander got tagged for at least one run in each of the first three innings, with a two-run shot by Freddy Fermin in the second being the biggest blow. Thorpe reeled off five straight quality starts at one point, but over his last two outings he's been crushed for 14 runs in only 5.2 innings, sending his ERA soaring from 3.03 to 5.48. He'll try to turn things around in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week in Oakland.
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White Sox's Drew Thorpe: Falters in first frame Friday
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Thorpe (3-2) took the loss Friday, surrendering eight runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks in only two-thirds of an inning as the White Sox were routed 10-0 by the Mariners. He struck out one.
The rookie right-hander's eighth career start was an absolute disaster, as Seattle batted around in the first inning and launched back-to-back-to-back homers off Thorpe to chase him from the game. The brutal performance sent his ERA soaring from 3.03 to 4.81, and it snapped his streak of five straight quality starts. Thorpe will try to shake it off and get back on track in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Royals.
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White Sox's Drew Thorpe: Nets fourth straight quality start
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Thorpe didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against Minnesota in the second game of a doubleheader, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk through six innings. He struck out one.
Thorpe was cruising Wednesday, holding the Twins to just one hit through five scoreless innings. However, the rookie right-hander would give up back-to-back homers to Brooks Lee and Carlos Correa in the sixth, allowing Minnesota to tie the game, 2-2. Still, it was another solid outing from Thorpe -- he's now delivered four straight quality starts, allowing just five runs over 24.1 innings in that span. Overall, Thorpe is 3-1 with a 3.58 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 19:15 K:BB through his first six starts (32.2 innings). He's currently slated for a road matchup with the Royals in his next outing following the All-Star break.
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White Sox's Drew Thorpe: Tosses quality start in third win
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Thorpe (3-1) picked up the win Friday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over 6.1 innings in a 3-2 victory over the Marlins. He struck out five.
In his longest outing since getting called up to the majors, Thorpe tossed 51 of 90 pitches for strikes as he delivered his third straight quality start and third straight win. The rookie right-hander hasn't exactly faced the toughest competition over his win streak, however, as he beat Miami, Detroit and Colorado away from Coors Field. Thorpe will take a 3.71 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 18:14 K:BB through 26.2 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come at home next weekend against the Pirates.
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White Sox's Drew Thorpe: Secures second victory
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Thorpe (2-1) earned the win Friday versus Colorado, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk over six innings. He struck out four.
The Chicago right-hander shined in this outing, allowing just three baserunners en route to his second straight quality start. The only blemish on Thorpe's performance was a two-run homer allowed to Brenton Doyle in the sixth inning. Over his first four career starts, the White Sox rookie sports a 4.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 13:12 K:BB across 20.1 innings. He's currently slated to make his next appearance against the Guardians in Cleveland.
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White Sox's Drew Thorpe: Earns first career win
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Thorpe (1-1) earned the win against the Tigers on Saturday, allowing two hits and four walks while striking out five over six scoreless innings.
Thorpe turned in the best start of his young major-league career, earning his first win in the process. He leaned on his changeup, throwing it 38 times and generating an impressive 10 swinging strikes on the pitch. The rookie walked four batters after yielding five free passes June 16 and owns an unimpressive 9:11 K:BB with a 5.02 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 14.1 innings with the White Sox. He lines up for a home matchup with Atlanta next week.
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White Sox's Drew Thorpe: Contract selected for debut
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The White Sox selected Thorpe's contract from Double-A Birmingham, and he'll start Tuesday's game against the Mariners.
Manager Pedro Grifol said Sunday that Thorpe was likely to take the mound Tuesday for Chicago, and the right-hander has now been added to the 26-man and 40-man rosters. The 23-year-old will skip the Triple-A level to make his MLB debut after posting a 1.35 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 56:17 K:BB over 60 innings for Birmingham this year.
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White Sox's Drew Thorpe: Likely making debut Tuesday
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White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Sunday that Thorpe is expected to be called up from Double-A Birmingham to start Tuesday against the Mariners, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Thorpe has been dominant for Double-A Birmingham this season with a 1.35 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 56:17 K:BB over 60 innings, and he's set to bypass Triple-A Charlotte to make his MLB debut. A second-round pick of the Yankees in 2022 who was traded to the Padres in the Juan Soto deal and then flipped to the White Sox as part of the package for Dylan Cease, the 23-year-old righty has just 34 professional appearances under his belt.
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Padres' Drew Thorpe: Traded to Padres
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The Yankees traded Thorpe, Michael King, Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito and Kyle Higashioka to the Padres on Wednesday in exchange for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Thorpe cemented his status as one of the most promising right-handed pitching prospects in baseball last season by logging a 2.52 ERA and 0.98 WHIP across 139.1 innings between High-A and Double-A. The Padres will likely promote Thorpe to Triple-A El Paso at some point in 2024, and there's a chance the 23-year-old makes his MLB debut late in the year if his pattern of domination continues.
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Yankees' Drew Thorpe: Dominates in Double-A debut
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Thorpe earned a win in his first start with Double-A Somerset on Friday, allowing two hits and striking out nine batters over eight scoreless innings.
Thorpe was outstanding over 18 starts at the High-A level this season, posting a 2.81 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 138:33 K:BB over 109 frames. The 61st overall pick in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft was consequently promoted to Double-A, where he continued to impress in his first start. Thorpe has rapidly risen to be among the Yankees' top pitching prospects and has top-of-the-rotation upside if he can continue the steady progress he has already displayed since going pro.
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Yankees' Drew Thorpe: Mastering High-A
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Thorpe has a 2.08 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 99.1 innings through 16 starts for High-A Hudson Valley.
The 61st overall pick in last year's draft, Thorpe has been dominant in his pro debut. Opposing batters are hitting .198 against him and he is generating groundballs at a 49.3 percent clip to go with his 32.6 percent strikeout rate. The 6-foot-4 righty was more projectable than the typical college pitcher, and Thorpe's fastball now sits in the 93-94 mph range. He has one of the best changeups in the minors and also boasts an above-average slider to round out his repertoire.
