White Sox hurler involved in two blockbuster trades to undergo elbow surgery

Nothing has gone right in 2024 for the Chicago White Sox, and that trend continued Monday.

With a 31-107 record, the White Sox have already lost more games in 2024 than in any other season in franchise history, and there are still 24 games left to play. They have a real shot at breaking the all-time loss record in a Major League Baseball season, 120 by the 1962 New York Mets.

Though the White Sox's games haven't mattered to the team's position in the standings for months on end, they still hoped to use this season as a time to develop some of their young players. But that hasn't panned out much, either.

No Chicago rookie has been worth more than 1.4 wins above replacement (pitcher Jonathan Cannon), and several are in the negatives. Then, one of their most promising rookies suddenly had his season cut short.

Starter Drew Thorpe, who last pitched on Jul. 31, will undergo season-ending elbow surgery to shave down a bone spur, the White Sox announced on Monday (via ESPN/Field Level Media). Thorpe will miss the rest of the season and is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

It's been an eventful year for Thorpe, who was part of two blockbuster trades this past offseason. First, the Yankees sent him to the San Diego Padres as part of the package for superstar outfielder Juan Soto. Then the Padres flipped him to Chicago for standout pitcher Dylan Cease.

After getting his feet wet in the White Sox system to begin the year, Thorpe made his major league debut on Jun. 11. He has made nine starts with Chicago, posting a 3-3 record, 5.48 ERA, and 25 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings.

Thorpe appeared to find a groove at one point, winning three starts in a row from Jun. 22 to Jul. 5. But in the final two starts before his injury was announced, Thorpe allowed eight earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning, then six earned runs in five innings.

The White Sox hope Thorpe will be able to take advantage of the extra rest and recover in time to start the 2025 season, as they look to shake off the demons from a truly dreadful 2024.

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