Drew Thorpe’s Comeback Stalls as Elbow Discomfort Strikes Again

White Sox right-hander Drew Thorpe seemingly suffered another injury setback on Thursday.

Thorpe entered Spring Training behind schedule after experiencing a setback in late January following last year’s season-ending to remove a bone spur in his right elbow. While he was expected to miss the start of the season the White Sox were optimistic he could return to the rotation early in the year.

Thorpe had been slowly ramping up in camp and started a Triple-A game on Thursday. After escaping the first inning without any issues, Thorpe signaled to the dugout after throwing a couple of warmup pitches before the start of the second inning. Soon after he walked off the field with a trainer. 

“It sounds like discomfort of the elbow,” White Sox manager Will Venable told reporters. “It’s really unfortunate. He’s been working so hard and we hope that this is just a hiccup and he can get back on track.” 

Thorpe started nine games for the White Sox last season after being acquired in a Spring Training trade that sent Dylan Cease to the Padres. In 44.1 innings he posted a 5.48 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. His 13.2% strikeout rate ranked among the worst in MLB, while his 11.1% walk rate exceeded the league average. Thorpe has also struggled to produce ground balls that hurt him in hitter-friendly parks like Guaranteed Rate Field. 

However, Thorpe also showcased a nasty changeup with an Offspeed Value of 6, according to Baseball Savant, which grades as one of the most effective pitches in the MLB. Opposing hitters are batting just .164, accounting for 37.9 percent of his swings and misses, which is the most of any pitch in his arsenal. It was one of the reasons the 23-year-old logged two quality starts and two wins in his first four starts.

With Thorpe expected to miss the start of the season, last year’s Rule 5 Draft pick, Shane Smith, is one of the leading candidates to get the final spot in the rotation.