GLENDALE, Ariz. — The White Sox were dealt a double whammy of injury news Saturday.
Right-hander Drew Thorpe will have Tommy John surgery, the team announced, and infielder Brandon Drury, who was having an exceptional spring and stood a good chance to make the Opening Day roster, has a fractured left thumb.
Thorpe’s surgery, at a date to be determined, will be performed by Dr. Keith Meister.
Drury has a followup visit Monday with Dr. Donald Sheridan in Scottsdale. Drury was injured during practice Friday morning and was scratched from the lineup with a bruised hand.
Thorpe, 24, pitched one inning of a minor league game Thursday, but called for a trainer while warming up for the second inning. It was his first game action of the spring, having arrived behind other pitchers due to elbow problems.
Thorpe was acquired along with three others from the Padres a year ago for Sox ace Dylan Cease. The 2023 Minor League Pitcher of the Year posted a 3.03 ERA in his first seven starts for the Sox last season before struggling in his final two outings. He had season-ending surgery to shave down a bone spur on Sept. 7.
Thorpe experienced more soreness in the offseason and received a cortisone shot Jan. 24, delaying his start to spring training. He had been working his way back with bullpens and live batting practices and pitched in his first game Thursday.
Signed to a minor league deal, Drury, 32, was showing signs of returning to his Silver Slugger Award form of 2022 with the Angels this spring, ranking among the leaders in numerous Cactus League categories after he batted .169/.242/.228 in 360 plate appearances during an injury-plagued 2024 season.