MiLB Player of the Week Spotlight: Thorpe

Drew Thorpe approaches each outing with one goal in mind: playing to his strengths. It's safe to say he's been flexing of late.

The right-hander was absolutely lights-out in his lone start last week for High-A Hudson Valley -- making history in the process -- en route to being named the Minor League Pitcher of the Week in the South Atlantic League for the second time this season. The sixth-ranked Yankees prospect twirled eight scoreless frames -- yielding just a pair of hits and a walk -- while setting a new single-game franchise record with 13 strikeouts. He previously earned SAL Pitcher of the Week honors for the week of May 29 to June 4 and was also named the SAL Pitcher of the Month for June.

"I think it’s just going into every game with a plan and just executing that," Thorpe told MLB Network's Harold Reynolds. "Just knowing my strengths and going to hitters with my strengths and I think I’ve continued to do that throughout the year so its been good."

The 22-year-old's performance also catapulted him to the top of other Renegades' all-time records. Thorpe's eighth punchout on Saturday marked his 119th on the season, passing Mitch Spence (2021) for the single-season strikeout crown -- he finished the game with 124. Thorpe also notched his 10th victory, passing Josh Maciejewski (2021) and Mike Venafro (1995) to establish a new single-season wins record for the Renegades.

"It’s been great," Thorpe told Reynolds of his season. "Just grinding and trying to get better each day, and just continuing to develop."

Thorpe has been one of the best pitchers in the Minor Leagues over his eight starts since June 1. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder is 7-0 with a 0.65 ERA -- having yielded four earned runs over 55 2/3 frames -- while allowing 27 hits, 13 walks and notching 72 whiffs. He leads Minors pitchers in wins, innings pitched, strikeouts and qualified ERA over that span.

In 16 total starts, Thorpe has posted seven scoreless outings -- all of at least five innings. The 2022 second-round Draft selection (No. 61 overall) is also one of two hurlers in the Minors this season to have multiple starts (two) of eight or more scoreless frames -- Austin Peterson of Single-A Lynchburg is the other.

"I’m feeling good," Thorpe said. "I started off a little slow but I kind of put together a bunch of good starts lately and just trying to continue to keep doing the same, so, it’s been good."

The Cal Poly San Luis Obispo product was a consensus All-American in 2022 after ranking second in NCAA Division I in strikeouts (a school-record 149 in 104 2/3 innings) and third in hits per nine innings (5.6) while finishing his college career with 14 consecutive quality starts. He made his pro debut with Hudson Valley this year.