Top 20 Starting Pitching Prospects (10-1)
Top 20 Starting Pitching Prospects (10-1)
Continuing my Top 20 pitching prospects, here are my Top 10. If you haven’t had a chance to read 20-11, check it out here:
10. Drew Thorpe - Age 23.177 - White Sox
Height: 6’4“ Weight: 212lb Throws: Right
Thorpe has experienced quite the off-season, having already been traded from both the Yankees and the Padres organizations and landing in the south side of Chicago. I guess the good news for him is that he’s been one of the headliners in both deals he was apart of, so he’s doing something right!
The former 2nd rounder in 2022 hit the ground running in his debut season last year. He started the season off in High A and it didn’t take long to see the potential he had. In 18 starts (109 IP), Thorpe posted a 2.81 ERA along with a 32.4% K% and 7.7% BB%. The Yankees then gave the then-22-year-old a handful of starts (5) in Double A to close the season and he continued to flash excellence, posting a 1.48 ERA with a massive 40% K% and magnificent 4.5% BB% in 30.1 IP.
Thorpe doesn’t wow anyone with his fastball, as it’s unquestionably the worst part of his arsenal. While it can get a couple ticks higher, it usually sits around 90-92 MPH. However, it’s the other-worldly change-up that makes him the pitcher he is. It is already one of the best in baseball and is the reason for his lofty K numbers. He sells it well and it has insane bite to it as it reaches home plate. He also throws a slider which has shown promise with some good action to it and he controls all of his pitches fairly well.
I have to admit, I liked him more in the Padres organization than I do in the White Sox organization, but he still has a solid floor of a #4 starter with the potential of much better. I venture to guess he’ll start 2024 in Triple A and if the results start pouring in early in the season, it won’t be hard to crack that White Sox rotation by June. It’ll be fun to see if he can overcome his lack of velocity with a supreme change-up in the majors.
ETA: Early/Mid 2024