ARLINGTON, Texas — Drew Thorpe last appeared in a regular-season game with the Chicago White Sox on July 31, 2024.
The right-hander took an important step on Saturday, pitching two scoreless innings during an injury rehabilitation assignment with the Arizona Complex League White Sox.
“It felt good,” Thorpe said during a videoconference call on Tuesday. “Obviously it has been what feels like forever. It was good to touch the mound again in somewhat of a game.
“It’s a good start and just keep building from there.”
Thorpe’s 2024 season was cut short after he went on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Aug. 1 with a right flexor strain. During the next month, the team announced that Thorpe would undergo a season-ending surgery involving a bone spur in his right elbow.
Thorpe exited a minor-league start with discomfort in the elbow during March 2025. Tommy John surgery followed.
This year, an appendectomy slowed him down a couple of months ago.
“It’s definitely been a longer process than I expected,” Thorpe said. “But you know just some of the things are out of my control. Just kind of going day by day and that’s all I can really do. The last month or so has been great, building back up.”
Sox manager Will Venable praised Thorpe for how he’s handled each challenge.
“I’ve touched base with him a few times — especially more recently — and just as these things kept popping up, just making sure he’s doing all right,” Venable said on Tuesday at Globe Life Field. “And he seems like he’s handling it really well. And a testament to the kind of guy he is, the character he has, that he can deal with tough things.
“Obviously in baseball that’s what it’s all about, dealing with adversity. But there’s different levels of that, and he’s experienced about as tough as it can get.”
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Thorpe, 25, acknowledged some ups and downs through the recovery process from Tommy John surgery.
“Some days it’s harder to be positive than others,” Thorpe said. “I think it was good having a couple of guys with me in Arizona, (pitchers) Ky Bush and Mason Adams were there (recovering from Tommy John surgery) for a while. Just being able to go through it with those guys and just kind of build off each other and I think that was the most helpful part.
“There are some bad days and then there are some good days and you just have to take the good days and run with them.”
Saturday’s game was one of those good days. He allowed one hit, struck out three and did not allow a walk in the two innings against the Arizona Complex League Padres.
“Just finish it healthy, that was the main goal,” Thorpe said. “Mix in my stuff. I added a sinker this past couple of however long I’ve been rehabbing — it feels like forever. That was good to see. Just mixing all my pitches and getting out on the mound again was the main thing.
“The outing on Saturday went really well. In the last month or so, I’ve been bouncing back a lot better than I was earlier on in the throwing program and build-up process and everything. So yeah, I’m in a really good spot right now.”
Thorpe joined High-A Winston-Salem this week and is scheduled to pitch three innings on Friday. If all goes well, starts of four and five innings could follow.
The Sox acquired Thorpe as part of the March 2024 trade that sent pitcher Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres. He went 3-3 with a 5.48 ERA in nine starts that season before the series of setbacks.
Thorpe has kept tabs on this season’s success of the big-league team as he’s continued to work.
“It’s been incredible,” Thorpe said. “It’s fun to watch. They are playing really well. Team chemistry looks really good. I felt it a little bit in spring training, just being around the guys. I knew we had a good group. It’s really fun to see them all put it together and everybody is having a great year.”
He’d like to be in a position to aid the Sox later this season.
“I’m just taking it day by day and doing what I can but yeah, for sure, I feel like I’m in a really good spot right now,” Thorpe said. “Just have to build up. That’s how it goes. I’m ready to go.”
Venable said he’s excited about that possibility.
“Personally, with Drew and him going through what he’s gone through over the last couple of years, would absolutely love to see it for him,” Venable said, “would love to see it for us.”
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