The New York Yankees have a burgeoning ace in their farming system as Hudson Valley Renegades RHP Drew Thorpe was named 2023 Pitching Prospect of the Year in Major League Baseball’s first Minor League Award Show last night.
The Yankees took to Twitter to shout out their 23-year-old star on his achievement yesterday:
Thorpe moved up to Triple-A after averaging 11 strikeouts in four appearances for the Double-A Somerset Patriots. In 12 games for Hudson Valley, Thorpe posted a 10-2 record behind a 2.81 ERA, one complete game and one shutout.
He and Joe Boyle were the only two minor league pitchers to give up fewer than 100 hits in at least 130 innings pitched. Thorpe has transcended a lower-end 93 mph fastball as he’s dominated the lower ranks. Markedly, he enjoyed his best game of the season with 13 K on July 22 against the Brooklyn Cyclones.
When asked about his velocity and command on the mound, Thorpe had this to say:
“[I] Just kind of pride myself on being able to locate wherever and whenever I need to with all my pitches and it’s helped me out throughout the year.”
Thorpe was originally drafted 61st overall in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft and is expected to be called up to the majors in 2025.
The Yankees have boasted an efficient pitching staff in the Aaron Judge era, and Thorpe projects to add to their depth with a 1.073 WHIP that he’ll only build upon to close out his minor league career.
Thorpe also finished as a runner-up for Minor League Debut of the Year, losing out to precocious San Diego Padres prospect Ethan Salas.