Drew Thorpe

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #5 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 55/High
  
  Track Record: A college standout who starred in both the Cape Cod League and for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National team, Thorpe finished second in the nation with 149 strikeouts his junior year at Cal Poly and was drafted by the Yankees in the second round. He worked to gain velocity in their system and continued to rack up whiffs with a dominant pro debut in 2023. Thorpe went 14-2, 2.52 and led the minors with 182 strikeouts as he climbed to Double-A. The Padres acquired him as one of five players in the trade for Juan Soto after the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Thorpe is a big, sturdy righthander who operates with a five-pitch mix. His average fastball sits 92 mph and tops out at 94, but it plays up with riding life and Thorpe’s outstanding command. He gained 2-4 mph of velocity in his first season under the Yankees instruction and could potentially add more. Thorpe’s best pitch is a plus-plus, 82-84 mph changeup that gets swings and misses en masse. It is a true out pitch batters swing through even when they know it’s coming. Thorpe’s mid-80s bullet slider is an average third offering he throws almost as frequently as his fastball. He also mixes in a high-80s cutter and low-80s sweeping curveball to steal strikes early in counts. Thorpe ties everything together with plus control. He is a strong, durable competitor who frequently completes seven to eight innings in a start.
  
  The Future: Thorpe doesn’t light up a radar gun, but he’s an accomplished pitcher who knows how to get the most from his stuff. He projects to be a No. 3 or 4 starter and could be more if he continues to add velocity.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 60 | Cutter: 40 | Control: 60
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #8 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Thorpe had two-way potential when he arrived in college, but Cal Poly believed there was more potential as a pitcher. They were right. Part of the decision was because of Thorpe's outstanding changeup, which continued to be his signature pitch throughout three seasons with the Mustangs, where was teammates with shortstop and No. 8 overall pick Brooks Lee. He also pitched in the Cape Cod League and was a member USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team in 2021. Thorpe's outstanding junior campaign saw him strike out 149 hitters in 103.2 innings, which earned him not only a spot as a BA first-team All-American but led the Yankees to draft him in the second round and sign him for $1,187,600.
  
  Scouting Report: In Thorpe, the Yankees saw untapped potential, thanks to a more physical pitcher than would be expected from someone whose fastball only averaged 90.5 mph during his draft season at Cal Poly. They also like what they saw in Thorpe's natural movement patterns, which suggest a pitcher who with further development and strength will see an uptick in fastball velocity and amplified offspeed pitches. Instead of sending him to an affiliate after signing, the Yankees brought Thorpe in and rested him before inviting him to their fall instructional program, which is typically divided into groups focusing on specific skill development. This is the same tact they took with Will Warren after the 2021 season, when he emerged as a different pitcher.
  
  The Future: After an offseason of rest and instruction, Thorpe's college pedigree means he's likely to head to High-A Hudson Valley to officially begin his pro career. He has a shot at becoming a back-end rotation piece, with a chance for more.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45. Slider: 55. Changeup: 65. Control: 60.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #63 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Cal Poly Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
  Age At Draft: 21.8
  BA Grade: 50/High
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: - | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 65 | Cutter: | Control: 60
  Thorpe arrived at Cal Poly unsure whether he’d be a third baseman, catcher or pitcher, but after coach Larry Lee saw Thorpe’s changeup, he quickly put him on the mound. Thorpe went on to start three years in the Mustangs rotation, including the last two as their Friday night starter, and pitched in both the Cape Cod League and for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team last summer. Thorpe is one of the most accomplished and polished pitchers in the draft class. He has a strong, durable 6-foot-4 frame and throws three pitches for strikes with plus control. His fastball sits 89-93 mph and maintains its velocity deep into starts. His 82-83 mph slider improved this spring to become an above-average pitch that gets swings and misses both in and out of the strike zone and his 81-84 mph changeup is a devastating, borderline plus-plus offering batters can’t touch even when they know it is coming. Thorpe’s fastball is straight and hittable, so he pitches off his secondaries and will sometimes go entire innings without throwing a single fastball. His arm speed has slowed because he’s so secondary-heavy, costing him velocity at times. Thorpe will have to establish his fastball better as a pro to reach his back-of-the-rotation potential. His polished three-pitch mix, control and durability have him in top-two rounds consideration.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #58 prospect in 2024
• Ranked Baseball America's #96 prospect in 2023

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Thorpe had two-way potential when he arrived in college, but Cal Poly believed there was more potential as a pitcher. They were right. Part of the decision was because of Thorpe's outstanding changeup, which continued to be his signature pitch throughout three seasons with the Mustangs, where was teammates with shortstop and No. 8 overall pick Brooks Lee. He also pitched in the Cape Cod League and was a member USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team in 2021. Thorpe's outstanding junior campaign saw him strike out 149 hitters in 103.2 innings, which earned him not only a spot as a BA first-team All-American but led the Yankees to draft him in the second round and sign him for $1,187,600.
  
  Scouting Report: In Thorpe, the Yankees saw untapped potential, thanks to a more physical pitcher than would be expected from someone whose fastball only averaged 90.5 mph during his draft season at Cal Poly. They also like what they saw in Thorpe's natural movement patterns, which suggest a pitcher who with further development and strength will see an uptick in fastball velocity and amplified offspeed pitches. Instead of sending him to an affiliate after signing, the Yankees brought Thorpe in and rested him before inviting him to their fall instructional program, which is typically divided into groups focusing on specific skill development. This is the same tact they took with Will Warren after the 2021 season, when he emerged as a different pitcher.
  
  The Future: After an offseason of rest and instruction, Thorpe's college pedigree means he's likely to head to High-A Hudson Valley to officially begin his pro career. He has a shot at becoming a back-end rotation piece, with a chance for more.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45. Slider: 55. Changeup: 65. Control: 60.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Thorpe had two-way potential when he arrived in college, but Cal Poly believed there was more potential as a pitcher. They were right. Part of the decision was because of Thorpe's outstanding changeup, which continued to be his signature pitch throughout three seasons with the Mustangs, where was teammates with shortstop and No. 8 overall pick Brooks Lee. He also pitched in the Cape Cod League and was a member USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team in 2021. Thorpe's outstanding junior campaign saw him strike out 149 hitters in 103.2 innings, which earned him not only a spot as a BA first-team All-American but led the Yankees to draft him in the second round and sign him for $1,187,600.
  
  Scouting Report: In Thorpe, the Yankees saw untapped potential, thanks to a more physical pitcher than would be expected from someone whose fastball only averaged 90.5 mph during his draft season at Cal Poly. They also like what they saw in Thorpe's natural movement patterns, which suggest a pitcher who with further development and strength will see an uptick in fastball velocity and amplified offspeed pitches. Instead of sending him to an affiliate after signing, the Yankees brought Thorpe in and rested him before inviting him to their fall instructional program, which is typically divided into groups focusing on specific skill development. This is the same tact they took with Will Warren after the 2021 season, when he emerged as a different pitcher.
  
  The Future: After an offseason of rest and instruction, Thorpe's college pedigree means he's likely to head to High-A Hudson Valley to officially begin his pro career. He has a shot at becoming a back-end rotation piece, with a chance for more.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45. Slider: 55. Changeup: 65. Control: 60.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  August Update: Thorpe arrived at Cal Poly unsure whether he&#39d be a third baseman, catcher or pitcher, but after coach Larry Lee saw Thorpe&#39s changeup, he quickly put him on the mound. Thorpe went on to start three years in the Mustangs rotation, including the last two as their Friday night starter, and pitched in both the Cape Cod League and for USA Baseball&#39s Collegiate National Team last summer. Thorpe is one of the most accomplished and polished pitchers in the draft class. He has a strong, durable 6-foot-4 frame and throws three pitches for strikes with plus control. His fastball sits 89-93 mph and maintains its velocity deep into starts. His 82-83 mph slider improved this spring to become an above-average pitch that gets swings and misses both in and out of the strike zone and his 81-84 mph changeup is a devastating, borderline plus-plus offering batters can&#39t touch even when they know it is coming. Thorpe&#39s fastball is straight and hittable, so he pitches off his secondaries and will sometimes go entire innings without throwing a single fastball. His arm speed has slowed because he&#39s so secondary-heavy, costing him velocity at times. Thorpe will have to establish his fastball better as a pro to reach his back-of-the-rotation potential.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45. Slider: 55. Changeup: 65. Control: 60.