ARLINGTON, Texas — Drew Thorpe’s not a morning person, but he’ll make an exception if it means getting back to the White Sox after two frustrating years of injury rehabilitation.
“Ten a.m. starts should be illegal, but I’ll take it,” Thorpe said, referring to his early first pitch in the desert last weekend with the Arizona Complex League Sox.
The right-hander threw two scoreless innings with three strikeouts in his biggest step yet back to the Sox since being sidelined since July 31, 2024, with a slew of elbow issues, Tommy John surgery and an appendectomy to boot.
“It has been what feels like forever,” Thorpe said. “It was good to touch the mound again in somewhat of a game.”
Thorpe’s next step comes Friday with a three-inning outing at High-A Winston-Salem, and he hopes to ramp up from there — all the way back to the big leagues this season, he believes.
“I think so. That’s up to them,” Thorpe said, pointing to Sox leaders who acquired him in the Dylan Cease trade. Thorpe posted a 5.48 ERA but flashed tantalizing potential in nine starts for the Sox before going down.
“I’m in a really good spot right now,” he said. “Just have to build up. That’s how it goes. I’m ready to go.”
Manager Will Venable said a potential return for the Sox’ playoff push is “absolutely” possible.
“For him personally, just to be getting back healthy and active means a lot,” Venable said. “That’s the game plan, to push him and have him as somebody that can help us.”
Quero returns
Catcher Edgar Quero started Wednesday’s rubber match in Texas, his first in the place of Kyle Teel, who could miss the rest of the regular season with the ankle sprain he suffered Monday.
Quero said he felt sorry for his fellow backstop, but relished another big-league opportunity after struggling to a .486 OPS during Teel’s first stint on the injured list.
“I started the season pretty bad,” Quero said. “I have the chance right now to turn the page and do my stuff and get ready and help the team… I did everything I could in Triple-A to fix my swing and fix everything. I feel ready to go right now.”
Schultz struggles
Rookie Noah Schultz got knocked around for five runs on 11 hits over 3⅔ innings in Tuesday’s loss, tied for the shortest of his 12 starts and raising his ERA to 6.04.
Outside of a decent showing against the Athletics before the All-Star break, it’s been a tough month for the Oswego East product. Another dud could raise the specter of a trip to Charlotte.
“I’m just leaving too much stuff over the heart of the plate,” Schultz said.
Venable took solace in the lack of walks from Schultz but said they need more from the 6-10 left hander.
“Good job getting ahead of guys, keeping the count leverage,” Venable said. “We’ve just got to find a way to put guys away, whether that’s in the zone or finding a way to get some chase.”
Jack of all trades
Utility player Luisangel Acuna needed just five pitches to set the Rangers down in order during garbage time Tuesday, drawing a pair of groundouts and a lineout with soft tosses topping out at a leisurely 39.5 mph.
“He might have had the best performance of anyone on the field … which I guess speaks to the kind of day it was,” Venable said of the position-player meatballs, three of which registered as sliders on Statcast.
“I’m not sure how it’s moving. I just know it’s slow,” Venable said.
It was Acuna’s second career pitching appearance. José Caballero took him deep last month at Yankee Stadium.
Acuna had a nice series at the plate in Texas, too, going 2-for-4 with two RBI while filling in at short for a bruised Colson Montgomery, who was back in the starting lineup Wednesday.
Bergolla back
Infield prospect William Bergolla Jr. started a rehab assignment Tuesday with the ACL Sox more than three months after an outfield collision with Sam Antonacci when both were at Triple-A Charlotte.
Bergolla (16-for-35 with four doubles before his shin contusion) is the Sox’ No. 9-ranked prospect and a potential trade chip for general manager Chris Getz ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline.