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ARLINGTON -- The official first pitch of the Arizona Complex League White Sox game on Saturday was not a misprint.
That’s right, 9:59 a.m. Mountain Standard Time.
Drew Thorpe, who has nine Major League starts on his resume, certainly didn’t push for that shortly after sunrise wakeup call. But in his long-awaited return to the mound for this injury rehab appearance, Thorpe probably would have taken the ball two or three hours earlier.
“10 a.m. starts should be illegal, but I’ll take it,” said a smiling Thorpe during a Tuesday Zoom. “I got myself up pretty early just [to] try to feel awake.
“I couldn’t complain. It was good to be back out there.”
At the age of 25, the right-hander already has been a key component in a trade sending All-star outfielder Juan Soto from the Padres to the Yankees on Dec. 7, 2023, and a deal moving All-Star right-hander Dylan Cease from the White Sox to the Padres on March 13, 2024. Unfortunately, Thorpe’s most recent claim to fame centers upon being knocked over by injuries for the last two years.
It was July 31, 2024, vs. the Royals when Thorpe last appeared in a big league contest, ending his season early to have a bone spur removed from his right elbow. He eventually underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2025, costing him the entire campaign, and had other setbacks leaving him behind other White Sox hurlers who had the procedure around the same time.
There even was an appendectomy to deal with this past May. The recovery from all these injuries added together made it look as if Thorpe wouldn’t return in ’26.
Things appear different now.
“Yeah, yeah, for sure. I feel really good. The outing on Saturday went really well,” said Thorpe, who struck out three over two scoreless innings in the Arizona morning. “In the last month or so, I’ve been bouncing back a lot better than I was earlier on in the throwing program and buildup process and everything. I’m in a really good spot right now.
“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.”
Tuesday’s Zoom took place from Winston-Salem on Thorpe’s end, where he will make his next start Friday for the High-A Dash. The target there is for three innings, followed by starts of four innings, four innings and five innings.
If all continues to go well for Thorpe, who certainly deserves a stretch of good results, he could be an August or September addition for a team pushing toward the postseason.
“I think so, but that’s up to them,” Thorpe said. “I’m just taking it day by day and doing what I can, but I feel like I’m in a really good spot right now. Just have to build up. That’s how it goes. I’m ready to go.”
“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,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “Would love to see it for us. If he’s capable of doing it and somebody that gives us a better chance to win, that’s something we’d all jump at.”
Venable has reached out to Thorpe from time to time, as the manager mentioned Tuesday, just to check in with him. As tough as the physical limitations and challenges have been for Thorpe, two years away from baseball has to be even tougher mentally.
Help from friends and teammates such as Ky Bush and Mason Adams, who went through Tommy John at the same time, helped Thorpe get through to this point.
“And a testament to the kind of guy he is, the character he has, that he can deal with tough things,” Venable said. “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.”
“Sometimes your mind creeps into that,” said Thorpe, who has added a sinker to his repertoire featuring a top-notch changeup. “But just kind of take it day by day and it’s out of my control and just keep pushing forward.”