Drew Thorpe, the top right-handed pitching prospect in the Chicago White Sox farm system, will be called up to make his major league debut Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners.
White Sox manager Pedro Grifol confirmed the plan to reporters on Sunday in advance of the team’s trip to Seattle.
Thorpe, 23, was seen as a key return of the four-player package the White Sox received in the trade that sent right-hander Dylan Cease to San Diego in March. Thorpe wasn’t in the Padres’ system long, arriving there in December from the New York Yankees, who included him in their deal to acquire outfielder Juan Soto.
“I’ve seen his last couple outings. I always watch these guys on video here,” Grifol said of the 6-foot-4 Thorpe, per MLB.com. “He’s a strike-thrower, he’s a competitor.
“He’s got a plus-plus-plus changeup. He knows how to pitch, he’s calm and has a really good demeanor. Looking forward to seeing him pitch at this level because he looks like a big leaguer.”
He will be skipping Triple-A on his way to the majors. At Double-A Birmingham this season, he is 7-1 with a 1.35 ERA in 11 starts. Over 60 innings, he’s allowed nine runs on 35 hits and 17 walks with 56 strikeouts.
His fastball clocks in the 92- to 94-mph range.
The Yankees selected Thorpe with the No. 61 overall pick of the 2022 MLB Draft and kept him off the mound that summer, instead sending him to the weight room to be ready for 2023. Last season, MLB Pipeline named Thorpe its Pitching Prospect of the Year.
The White Sox are in position to give their youngsters a look. At 17-49, they have the worst record in baseball. With a loss to the American League West-leading Mariners on Monday night, the White Sox would become the 11th team in MLB history to reach 50 losses in just 67 games.
Overall, Thorpe is the No. 3 prospect in the White Sox organization, behind shortstop Colson Montgomery and LHP Noah Schultz.
–Field Level Media
