Thorpe, a draft-eligible redshirt sophomore, went 10-1 with a 2.32 ERA in 104 2/3 innings last season, striking out 149 against 25 walks and posting a 0.86 WHIP. His K total was second in the nation, and he was third in hits per nine and sixth in WHIP.
“We love Drew’s size and the Major League stuff and command he possesses,” Damon Oppenheimer, Yankees Vice President of Domestic Amateur Scouting, said in the team’s release announcing their Day 1 picks. “We have seen him up to 96 (mph) and he has arguably the best changeup in the draft. He is still projectable to add velocity and his overall ability to create swing-and-miss is elite. He has the ability to move quickly through the minor leagues with a good Major League starter ceiling.”
Thorpe was a consensus All-American – the first to make six All-America teams in Cal Poly school history – and was the first pitcher in school history to be named Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year as well.
The right-hander was ranked as the overall No. 61 by MLB Pipeline and the No. 62 prospect by Baseball America.
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