Young White Sox Pitcher Turns Heads in Dominant Return

Right-handed pitcher Drew Thorpe figures to be a big part of the Chicago White Sox starting rotation in the future.

After a dominant start to his professional career in the minor leagues with the Yankees and eventually the White Sox, Thorpe made his MLB debut in 2024 and put together a number of quality starts that had White Sox fans feeling like they had acquired a future star in the Dylan Cease trade.

Unfortunately, arm injuries have held Thorpe back over the last two years. He was shut down at the end of July 2024 with a right flexor strain, prematurely ending his rookie season. Just before the 2025 season, Thorpe was placed on the 60-day injured list after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Another lost year and another extended recovery followed.

But over the last few weeks, we've finally seen Thorpe return to the mound. And on Thursday night, he looked like an even better version of his old self.

In his first start of 2026 with the Birmingham Barons, Thorpe threw four scoreless innings, allowing one hit and recording five strikeouts. He faced the minimum number of batters, erasing the only single he allowed with a caught stealing, and threw 43 pitches. The young right-hander seems to have added a bit of velocity as well, while still possessing his wipeout changeup and all of the poise that has made him so productive throughout his professional career.

Thursday night was not just a sign that Thorpe should still be in Chicago's future plans, but perhaps a sign that he could help the White Sox this season. He's ramping up with just two months remaining, but we know the White Sox will need innings down the stretch. They may even need an extra boost in the starting rotation, and Thorpe could be the unexpected addition that takes this team over the top.

Let's not forget just how good he's been. After his start on Thursday, Thorpe is now 21-3 with a 2.21 ERA over 207.1 innings in his minor league career. Over those 207.1 innings, he's recorded 248 strikeouts, a ridiculous figure for a pitcher without an overwhelming fastball. His 0.94 WHIP is just as impressive.

Thorpe is 25 years old and will turn 26 in October, but he still figures to have a long MLB career ahead of him with the White Sox. With many of the organization's top pitching prospects having disappointing seasons, it's more than refreshing to see Thorpe back on the mound and realize that he hasn't missed a beat.