White Sox right-hander Drew Thorpe's bullpen session goes off without a hitch
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Drew Thorpe had a smile on his face Thursday in the Sox’ clubhouse at Camelback Ranch. He’s less than 12 months removed from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and threw 20 pitches, all fastballs, off a mound Tuesday at Camelback Ranch without incident.
It was his first time on a mound since the surgery and after a pre-camp setback that caused him to back off his rehab progression.
“My bullpen was good on Tuesday,” he said hours before the Sox played the Guardians on Thursday night. “Looking at the next day, it was more beneficial just to see where I was at. I was pretty sore, which is to be expected, and I feel a lot better today.”
Thorpe said he was throwing long toss before the opening of spring training when he started feeling some tenderness in his surgically repaired elbow. At that point, he backed off throwing a bit. The normal recovery and rehab progression from T.J. surgery to actively throwing in a game is 12-14 months and sometimes 18.
The shorter the rehab period, the better the chances of recurrence and a second surgery.
Thorpe was concerned enough that he went for a consultation with Dr. Keith Meister, who performed the surgery. Meister also removed a bone spur from the elbow in September 2024. Meister cleared Thorpe to continue throwing.
“Obviously, that was great. There’s nothing wrong in there,” Thorpe said. “It gave me peace of mind. Just being able to build from there has been good for me.”
Thorpe will continue to increase his capacity throwing off a mound and is expected to do so again Friday. He hasn’t pitched in a game since July 31, 2024.
“He continues to progress,” Sox manager Will Venable said. “Again, we’re just trying to be mindful of his slow build up here and make sure he’s healthy. He’s trending in the right direction.”
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As promised, Andrew Benintendi was back in the lineup against the Guardians, batting fifth and playing left field. He complained about overall soreness in his right side and has only played in three February spring games with two hits in seven at bats, both doubles.
“I’m excited to get this going,” Venable said. “We’ve just been slow-playing this thing to be cautious.”
Benintendi played in only 116 games last season because of a host of injuries, starting when he was hit by a pitch during spring training and suffered a non-displaced fracture in his right hand. That was followed by a left abductor strain and tendinitis in his left Achilles tendon. No wonder the Sox were being cautious.
The Sox have also monitored outfielder Everson Pereria since he felt soreness in his right oblique while taking swings last week off a Trajekt machine. Venable said there’s no timetable for getting him back into game action.
“We are looking at next week to get him out there if he continues to progress,” Venable added. “In some sort of game.”
Pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez left the game Tuesday in the seventh inning with tightness in his lower back.
Guardians 12, Sox 3
Sean Burke had a poor start to open the game, allowing four runs and four hits to the first six batters he faced. Angel Martinez, Brayan Rocchio and George Valera opened with doubles. With two outs, CJ Kayfus hit a two-run homer. After the rough start, Burke retired seven of the last eight he faced through three innings. “Last year when things went sideways for me early, I had some games that I wanted back,” Burke said. “I got in some trouble in the early innings, and I let that affect me. But tonight, I gave up that four-spot early and kept my head in the game. If it’s the regular season, I’d still be giving my team a chance to win.”
• Luisangel Acuna was hit by a Tyler Bibee pitch to lead off the first but seemed to suffer no ill effects.
• Andrew Benintendi was back in the lineup as projected and flied out to center in the second. He struck out swinging to lead off the fifth and came out of the game.
• On deck: Sox at Diamondbacks, 2:10 p.m. Friday, Scottsdale, Anthony Kay vs. Daniel Eagen.