CHICAGO — Right-hander Drew Thorpe received a cortisone shot on Friday, a setback in his recovery from season-ending surgery last Sept. 7 to shave down a bone spur in his right elbow.
“I’m hoping that kind of clears it up and we are good to go from here,” Thorpe said during a media session prior to SoxFest Live on Friday at the Ramova Theatre. “Everything structurally in my arm — I got MRIs a couple of weeks ago — everything is clean, everything is good. It’s part of the surgery process, I guess.
Thorpe, who was the lead component in the four-player return from San Diego as part of the Dylan Cease trade last spring, finished with a 3-3 record and 5.48 ERA over nine starts in his first Major League season.
His hope is to start playing catch again next week in dealing with residual inflammation, according to the White Sox, and recurring soreness. He’ll be behind at Spring Training’s outset, but hopes the ramp-up goes fairly quickly.
“We haven’t gone too deep into it. We are waiting to see how this goes,” Thorpe said.
White Sox general manager Chris Getz responded to an inquiry via text.
“Setbacks always bring some level of concern, but our medical and pitching group are confident this will only be a minor setback and he will be ready to go in April,” Getz wrote. “We are just being cautious, knowing this will be his first full season at the Major League level.”
Montgomery ready to start
Colson Montgomery, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 4 White Sox prospect and No. 39 overall, is ready to tackle a starting opportunity at shortstop during Spring Training. White Sox pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 12, with position players arriving in Glendale, Ariz., on Feb. 17.
“Yeah, I mean, of course. Every year, that’s kind of been my mindset,” Montgomery said. “I know I’ve heard a lot of things about getting a lot of opportunity, but I have to do it. The biggest thing I’ve always thought is if you don’t see yourself as the best at what you do, then you are just selling yourself short.”
Could Cannon get Opening Day nod?
With Garret Crochet gone to the Red Sox, the Opening Day pitching assignment appears wide open among Jonathan Cannon, Martín Pérez, Bryse Wilson, Davis Martin and Sean Burke. Martín Pérez has the most Major League experience, and Martin has the most experience as a member of the White Sox.
But Cannon was the top hurler of this group last year, with a 4.49 ERA over 23 games (21 starts). He would be thrilled to get the call on March 27 against the Angels at Rate Field.
“I mean, that would be a huge honor for me,” said the 24-year-old Cannon. “We have a long way to go with spring and everything. So I’m looking forward to getting out of Spring Training and starting to get dialed in on a routine.
“Anytime you can be the Opening Day starter, that’s a tremendous honor, no matter what team you are on.”
