White Sox fans recently got some disappointing news about one of their top young prospects. Right-handed pitcher Drew Thorpe revealed to reporters, including Scott Merkin of MLB.com, that he received a cortisone shot yesterday due to a setback in his recovery from surgery for a bone spur in his right elbow, which he underwent in September.
Thorpe had been expected to be ready for Spring Training but will now be delayed at the start of camp. However, he remains optimistic and hopes to start throwing again next week. Both Thorpe and GM Chris Getz expressed confidence that the issue is minor.
Thorpe mentioned that an MRI earlier this month showed no significant problems, and Getz assured that the team is “confident” Thorpe will be ready for MLB action by April.
Despite the positive outlook, the news is still a concern for a White Sox team coming off a historically bad 121-loss season in 2024. As one of the few teams actively rebuilding, Chicago has little to look forward to as it heads into 2025. While the team has added some veteran players like Josh Rojas, Mike Tauchman, and Martin Perez, the primary focus is still on a young core the team hopes will turn things around.
Thorpe, who was acquired as part of the Dylan Cease trade, is a key player in this rebuilding effort. He was considered a top-50 prospect last winter and has had a rapid rise since being drafted by the Yankees in the second round of the 2022 draft.
He was part of a series of trades, moving from New York to San Diego in the Juan Soto deal, before being sent to Chicago in the Cease trade.
After reaching Double-A in 2023, Thorpe made his MLB debut in June. He pitched well in his first seven starts with a 3.03 ERA and 4.67 FIP over 38 2/3 innings but struggled in his next two starts, allowing 14 runs in just 5 2/3 innings before going on the IL with a flexor strain and eventually having surgery.
Thorpe was expected to be part of the White Sox’s Opening Day rotation in 2025, but now his focus will be on rehab at the start of the season. Despite his up-and-down debut season, where he showed promise but struggled with command, there’s a spot for him in the rotation once he’s healthy. The White Sox have a few locked-in starters, including Perez, Bryse Wilson, and Jonathan Cannon, with the remaining spots likely to go to a mix of Sean Burke, Davis Martin, Nick Nastrini, and Ky Bush.
