The Chicago White Sox are calling up right-hander Drew Thorpe, considered one of their prime pitching prospects, to make his major-league debut on Tuesday, supervisor Pedro Grifol advised reporters Sunday (through NBC Chicago). The White Sox acquired Thorpe from the San Diego Padres within the Dylan Stop commerce after the Padres acquired him from the New York Yankees within the Juan Soto commerce.
Thorpe, 23, was New York’s second-round choose within the 2022 draft and he led the minors with 182 strikeouts in 2023. This season he has pitched to a 1.35 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 11 begins and 60 innings with the Double-A Birmingham Barons. He is been particularly good these days — two runs and 11 hits allowed in his final 4 begins — and the White Sox are skipping Thorpe over Triple-A totally.
Hardly ever does a prime pitching prospect get traded twice earlier than making his MLB debut, not to mention twice in a single offseason. In Thorpe’s case, he was traded because the prospect headliner for influence items. He was coveted. Soto is just top-of-the-line gamers in baseball and Stop was the AL Cy Younger runner-up in 2022. Stop and Soto have each carried out very effectively for his or her new groups.
Our R.J. Anderson didn’t rank Thorpe among the many recreation’s prime 50 prospects getting into the season. MLB Pipeline ranks Thorpe because the No. 54 prospect in baseball and No. 13 pitching prospect. Here is a snippet of their write-up:
Thorpe’s 91-95 mph fastball hasn’t wowed a lot in faculty or professional ball and could be a borderline below-average pitch if he did not spot it so effectively. His excessive strikeout numbers are pushed by a stellar changeup, a low-80s providing that he sells exceptionally effectively earlier than it hits the brakes and fades simply earlier than the hitter’s bat. He can get batters to chase the change in pitchers’ counts, however they will simply as simply be fooled within the zone. Thorpe’s 82-85 mph slider has good depth, giving him an above-average breaking possibility.
Ideally, there’d be a tick or two or extra of velocity right here, however Thorpe’s pitchability makes him at least a back-end starter within the massive leagues. Recruited by Cal Poly as a two-way participant, he has the athleticism and energy to repeat his easy supply, pound the strike zone and eat up innings. His means to sequence and command his pitches makes him more practical, and he instantly turned probably the most superior pitcher in Chicago’s system.
The White Sox primarily have three starters: Garrett Crochet, Erick Fedde, and Chris Flexen. Mike Clevinger is out with an elbow subject and Mike Soroka pitched his manner into the bullpen. Others like Jonathan Cannon, Brad Keller, and Nick Nastrini have all made begins and largely pitched poorly. If Thorpe pitches effectively, the White Sox determine to maintain him within the massive leagues.
Chicago enters play Sunday with MLB’s worst report at 17-48. That’s the franchise’s worst ever report by way of 65 video games, 4 video games worse than the 1934 staff’s 21-44 begin. The White Sox have been round since 1901.
Thorpe will make his MLB debut at T-Cell Park in Seattle in opposition to the Mariners on Tuesday.
