Yankees Top Prospect Reportedly Could Land Prestigious Award For MiLB's Best Pitcher

The New York Yankees could have one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball on their hands.

New York is going to be busy this offseason as the club looks to make its way back to the postseason in 2024. One of the biggest holes on the Yankees’ roster is without a doubt in the starting rotation. New York likely will add at least one external starter this upcoming offseason and one internal option that should help at some point in 2024 or 2025 is without a doubt No. 5 prospect Drew Thorpe.

Thorpe was drafted in the second round of the 2022 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft and has shot up the Yankees’ farm system. The 22-year-old has been extremely impressive this season and even is a finalist for the prestigious MiLB Pitcher of the Year Award.

“The only thing that could slow down Thorpe and his ridiculous changeup was an injury, with an issue with his non-throwing shoulder ending his season after five amazing starts in Double-A,” MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo said. “The Yankees’ second-rounder from last year was recruited to Cal Poly as a two-way player, but it’s clear the decision to have him focus on the mound was a very good one.

“Thorpe was extremely durable until the left shoulder problem at the end of the year, finishing second among all Top 100 pitchers in innings. He trailed only Snelling on that list in ERA and led that group in WHIP. Among all Minor Leaguers who surpassed that 80 IP plateau, he led everyone in xFIP (2.90) while finishing third in WHIP and K-BB percentage.”

The young righty was exceptional in the minors this season. Thorpe made 23 starts with the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades and Double-A Somerset Patriots and compiled a 2.52 ERA and 14-2 record. The 22-year-old was most impressive with Somerset and compiled a 1.48 ERA across five starts. If Thorpe can keep up his current momentum next season, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see him in New York.