The Chicago White Sox received encouraging news on one of their top pitching prospects as Drew Thorpe outlined the next steps in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. According to James Fegan, Thorpe will make his next rehab start Friday with High-A Winston-Salem, where he expects to throw three innings.
Thorpe added that he plans to build up gradually, pitching four innings in each of his next two starts before reaching five innings. He expects much of that progression to come with Triple-A Charlotte and believes he will return to the White Sox before the end of the 2026 season.
The 25-year-old has been working his way back after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2025, which caused him to miss the entire season. He recently made his first rehab appearance with the Arizona Complex League White Sox, tossing two scoreless innings while allowing one hit and striking out three batters.
Before the injury, Thorpe showed flashes of his potential during his rookie campaign. He owns a 3-3 record with a 5.48 ERA in nine major league starts but has enjoyed far greater success in the minors, compiling a 21-3 record with a 2.15 ERA across 35 starts.
The White Sox enter the week atop the American League Central with a 53-46 record, holding a one-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians. Chicago has emerged as one of baseball's biggest surprises under first-year manager Will Venable.
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Thorpe's return could provide another boost to a club looking to strengthen its rotation for the stretch run. While the White Sox are expected to continue monitoring his workload, the right-hander remains optimistic that he'll make his way back to Chicago before the regular season concludes.
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