White Sox righty Drew Thorpe suffers another setback in return from elbow injury

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The elbow problems keep creeping up on the White Sox. The latest came Thursday morning at Camelback Ranch, where right-hander Drew Thorpe exited a minor league game with soreness.

“Sounds like discomfort of the elbow,” manager Will Venable said, delivering the initial report. “We’ll evaluate it and likely do some imaging and see where we’re at.”

Thorpe, 24, was the top commodity acquired along with three others from the Padres a year ago for Sox ace Dylan Cease. Also traded from the Yankees for Juan Soto, 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 then 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.

“Really unfortunate, he’s been working really hard to get back,’’ Venable said, “and obviously for the whole organization it’s when there’s a setback. But for him, he’s just been working so hard. Hopefully just a hiccup and he can just get back on track.”

Thorpe was on the mound warming up for his second inning when he signaled for a trainer.

This spring alone, Sox pitching prospects Juan Carela, Ky Bush and Blake Larson and right-hander Prelander Berroa were lost to Tommy John surgery, and prospect Mason Adams left his last start with a flexor strain in his right elbow.