The Chicago White Sox starting rotation has been in constant flux throughout the season. Nearly every starter has experienced stretches of dominance followed by periods of inconsistency.
Chicago addressed that uncertainty by making a major trade with the Seattle Mariners for Luis Castillo. The right-hander delivered his best start in a White Sox uniform Wednesday night, tossing seven scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts.
But even if Castillo builds off that performance, questions still surround this rotation if the White Sox reach October. That makes any potential help even more important.
Chicago could soon get exactly that from a former top pitching prospect it hasn't seen since 2024: Drew Thorpe.
Thorpe has spent the past couple of weeks working his way back in the minor leagues and appears close to full health. He took another major step forward Wednesday night with Triple-A Charlotte.
The right-hander allowed just one run on three hits across five innings while striking out six and walking none. More importantly, Thorpe threw 76 pitches as he continues to build up his workload.
That could put him on the doorstep of returning to the majors, whether that comes after one more rehab start or during his next turn through the rotation.
Chicago is currently operating with a four-man rotation while using a bullpen game for the fifth spot. The White Sox have made it work thanks to several relievers capable of providing multiple innings.
Erick Fedde, Hagen Smith and Trevor Richards are among the options who can give manager Will Venable length when needed.
That approach can work for now, but it's hardly an ideal strategy for the final two months of the season. The last thing Venable wants is to wear down his bullpen before a potential postseason run.
Giving Thorpe an opportunity wouldn't just help eat innings. It could also give Chicago another intriguing option for its rotation down the stretch.
Thorpe struggled during his first taste of the majors in 2024, posting a 5.48 ERA across nine starts. But that remains an extremely small sample compared to the pitcher he was once projected to become.
The White Sox acquired the right-hander as the headliner of the package that sent Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres before the 2024 season. Before that trade, Thorpe emerged as one of the more highly regarded pitching prospects in the New York Yankees' farm system.
The 25-year-old's road back to this point has been anything but easy.
Thorpe's 2024 season ended after he suffered a right flexor strain that eventually required surgery. He then suffered another setback during spring training when he underwent Tommy John surgery, keeping him sidelined for more than a year.
Even his recovery didn't go completely according to plan. Thorpe needed an emergency appendectomy in May, further delaying his return to the mound.
Now, more than a year removed from his last major league appearance, he could finally get another opportunity to show that potential.
ALSO SEE: NRFI and YRFI MLB Bets Today: Best First-Inning Predictions for Thursday, Aug. 13
