Drew

Thorpe

Thorpe had Tommy John surgery last year and then dealt with some tendinitis during spring training, which delayed his return. However, the 25-year-old has gotten back into his bullpen routine and has reportedly been looking good. He could begin a rehab assignment in the coming weeks. It will likely be a lengthy rehab, but perhaps Thorpe becomes an option for the White Sox this summer.

Thorpe underwent Tommy John surgery a year ago and had a little bump in the road in dealing with tendinitis earlier this spring. Still, he’s been throwing regularly this month and could go on a rehab assignment in the coming weeks.

The right-hander had been shelved early in White Sox’ camp due to a bit of tendinitis in his surgically repaired right elbow. He’s feeling much improved now though and is hopeful that it was only a minor setback. He’ll throw another bullpen on Friday and continue his progression from there. He’ll begin the season on the injured list.

The encouraging news is that he had a follow-up visit with Dr. Keith Meister who confirmed that the ligament looks good. While the issue isn’t believed to be serious, it has slowed Thorpe’s progression in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. He is still playing catch and is hopeful to throw off of a mound for the first time at some point within the next three weeks.

This move is purely procedural. Thorpe will have Tommy John surgery and miss the entire 2025 season.

It’s a brutal development for Thorpe, who has battled elbow issues since late August and experienced offseason several setbacks while trying to ramp up his throwing program. The 24-year-old top pitching prospect will be sidelined into the 2026 campaign.

The 24-year-old right-hander received a cortisone injection at the beginning of February to combat the soreness in his elbow and has still been very slow to progress since then. It’s unclear at the moment if there are any plans for him to undergo imaging to see what’s going on there, but he’ll almost certainly open the season on the injured list.

Thorpe will get a couple of live BP sessions before moving to a five-day routine — assuming those sessions go well, of course. The right-hander may need to open the 2025 season on the injured list, but it’s obviously a positive sign that he’s ready to face hitters.

Thorpe threw a 20-pitch bullpen, and while he wasn’t close to full throttle — he was throwing 84-85 mph with his fastball — the important thing is he’s back on the mound and feeling well. The 24-year-old is behind the other White Sox starters, but has plenty of time to be ready for the start of the 2025 campaign.

Thorpe clearly wasn’t going 100 percent, as he was reportedly throwing 84-85 mph during the bullpen. The 24-year-old received a cortisone injection near the start of February and is considered “behind” the other White Sox starters. The next step is three weeks of bullpens, followed by live BP. Assuming good health, Thorpe should pitch near the back of the Chicago rotation to begin the 2025 campaign.