Again: Record-setting performance earns Thorpe second Pitcher of the Week honor

Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (July 24, 2023) – For the second time this season, Hudson Valley Renegades RHP Drew Thorpe was honored as the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week, MLB announced on Monday. He received the honor for the week of July 17-23, and was previously named SAL Pitcher of the Week for the week of May 29-June 4, and the SAL Pitcher of the Month for June.

In his lone start of the week on Saturday, Thorpe threw 8.0 shutout innings while setting a new Renegades single-game record by striking out 13 batters. With his eighth strikeout of the game, Thorpe registered his 119^th strikeout of the season to pass Mitch Spence (2021) for the Renegades single-season strikeout record. He picked up his 10^th win of the season in the contest, passing Josh Maciejewski (2021) and Mike Venafro (1995) to establish a new single season wins record for the Renegades.

“Drew continues to perform the way he expects. he wants to push the envelope of his development and continue to excel in an area he is already comfortable with -- striking batters out,” said *Renegades pitching coach Preston Claiborne. *"He's pitching in the moment -- trusting his process, routine, and applying what he is learning to his own talent and craft."

The @HVRenegades have a new single-game strikeout king 👑

No. 6 @Yankees prospect Drew Thorpe enjoys a splendid start, racking up 13 K's over eight scoreless: pic.twitter.com/8N9em78ld8

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 23, 2023

Since June 1, Thorpe has been arguably the best pitcher in Minor League Baseball. In eight starts, he is 7-0 with a 0.65 ERA (4 ER/55.2 IP), and has allowed just 27 hits, 13 walks while striking out 72 batters. He leads MiLB pitchers in wins, innings pitched, strikeouts and ERA (min. 30.0 IP) in that span.

He is one of two pitchers in MiLB this season to have two starts of 8.0-or-more shutout innings, joined by Austin Peterson of the Lynchburg Hillcats (CLE, A). Prior to Thorpe doing so twice (also on June 4 vs Aberdeen), no Renegades pitcher had thrown 8.0 shutout innings in a start since Tyree Hayes threw a 9-inning complete game shutout against the Lowell Spinners on Aug. 17, 2008.

Drafted in the 2^nd round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Thorpe is ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the Yankees organization by MLB Pipeline, and No. 8 by Baseball America. In recognition of his award, the Renegades will make a $500 donation in Thorpe’s name to the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center Health Network before a game on the Renegades’ next homestand.

In picking up the SAL Pitcher of the Week Award for the second time, he becomes the fifth Renegades weekly award this season. He joins RHP Juan Carela and RHP Tyrone Yulie, who were named SAL Pitcher of the Week for the weeks of April 17-23 and June 19-25, respectively, and OF Aaron Palensky who was named SAL Player of the Week for the week of May 22-28.

Hudson Valley is on the road for the next two weeks at the Hickory Crawdads and Wilmington Blue Rocks before returning home to Heritage Financial Park on Tuesday, August 8 to take on the Jersey Shore BlueClaws.

ABOUT THE HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES

The Hudson Valley Renegades are the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees and 2023 South Atlantic League North Division First Half Champions. Tickets for the 2023 SAL Playoffs are on sale now! To buy tickets now, slide to www.hvrenegades.com or call (845) 838-0094.

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Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH) was formed in 2021 to support, promote and enhance Minor League Baseball Clubs affiliated with Major League Baseball through professional management, best practices, innovation and investment (DiamondBaseballHoldings.com).