White Sox Pitching Prospects and Their Progress
Drew Thorpe made a significant impact during his performance against Triple-A Buffalo by allowing only one hit and striking out four over five scoreless innings. On an injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte, Thorpe remains a potential asset for the Chicago White Sox as they seek pitching reinforcements. Manager Will Venable emphasized the importance of depth and readiness among minor league players.
“I very much think that there’s a number of guys down there that are going to be helpful for us at some point here,” Venable stated. “We’re doing everything we can to make sure that depth’s in a good spot and when there is a need here, that we’re able to tap into it. That’s a huge part.”
Apart from Thorpe, other candidates like Noah Schultz and David Sandlin, who have previously started for the Sox, are also under consideration. Paul Janish, Director of Player Development, provided updates on the minor league pitchers. Thorpe, recovering from Tommy John surgery, has started nine games this year. He has a 2.70 ERA, with 35 strikeouts and nine walks in 36 2/3 innings.
Thorpe demonstrated consistency across different levels including the Arizona Complex League, High A Winston-Salem, Double-A Birmingham, and Triple-A Charlotte where he holds a 2.55 ERA. Janish commented on Thorpe’s recovery and performance:
“The biggest thing with Drew, coming off the injury, is just the fact that he’s consistently throwing, recovering, going back out there and doing it again. He has pitched well his last few times out. For all intents and purposes, he’s in a really good spot.”
Janish also mentioned that Thorpe’s future will depend on major league needs but stressed caution due to the significant nature of his surgery. Thorpe recovered well after an early-year appendix issue.
Schultz, a first-round pick in 2022, experienced a mixed season with a 6.06 ERA in 15 appearances after being promoted in April. He was optioned back to Charlotte in August. However, he showed promise in August with a 1.04 ERA in September starts.
Sandlin, with a 6.93 ERA in five outings with the Sox, showed significant improvement with strong performances in August for Charlotte. His recent start on September 4 was impressive, with just one earned run over 5 2/3 innings and 11 strikeouts. Janish appreciated his progress:
“Sandlin’s been locked in. The integrity of the stuff has been really good. Feel comfortable saying he’s probably in as confident of a place that he’s been in a little while.”
Schultz also showed improvement after returning to Charlotte, preparing for any future opportunities. For all players, the focus remains on readiness to contribute at the major league level.
Janish stated:
“Depending on what happens on a given day at the major-league level, any of those guys, especially the 40-man-roster guys, they need to have their mind right to mentally be able to come here and help this team win a game if the opportunity presents itself.”
The Sox have utilized versatility in their pitching staff, including potential bulk roles for pitchers like Schultz and Sandlin. This flexibility ensures that none of the players will be unprepared if called upon by the major league team.