Lewis Thorpe - 2017

[Bob Sacamento]

 

This was Thorpe's third outing this spring, he went 3 IP throwing 62 pitches (35K/27BB) against the Red Sox Hi A affiliate team.  His FB was 88-91 mph sitting 88-89 with good movement. I know some fans were hoping for higher velo but it's still early in the process for that I'd be more happy with he flashed some good secondary pitches mainly a CV.  

He started off with solid control spotting the corners and working his FB inside, not afraid to throw in, setting up with curveball outside.  Lewis started off strong for the first two innings but unfortunately his control started to wane in his third inning.  Still for missing nearly two years of baseball a pretty good outing for the Aussie. 

 

Velocity

FB 88-91 mph (89 avg)

CV 77 -79 mph

CH 82-83 mph

SL 85-86 mph

 

 

 

1st IP

1st batter - 4 pitches (4 strikes) popup 1B

2nd batter - 3 pitches (3 strikes ) groundout 6-3

3rd batter - 4 pitches (3 strikes, 1 ball) strikeout

Total - 11 pitches (10 strikes, 1 ball)

 

2nd IP

1st batter - 5 pitches (3 strikes, 2 balls) Flyout F-8

2nd batter - 6 pitches (3 strikes, 3 balls) single between 4-3

3rd batter - 5 pitches (3 strikes, 2 balls) strikeout 

4th batter - 7 pitches (4 strikes, 3 balls) strikeout 

Total - 23 pitches (13 strikes, 10 balls)

 

3rd IP

1st batter - 8 pitches (4  strikes, 4 balls) Walk

2nd batter - 6 pitches (3 strikes, 3 balls) Flyout F-8

3rd batter - 5 pitches (4 balls, 1 strike) Walk

4th batter - 5 pitches (4 balls, 1 strike) Walk

5th batter - 4 pitches (3 strikes, 1 ball) strikeout

Total - 28 pitches (12 strikes, 16 balls)

 

Game Total -62 pitches (35 strikes, 27 balls)

Here's video of bullpen warmups, game warmups, and every game pitch by Lewis Thorpe but one to CJ Chatham in the first (a nasty curveball).

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2n6QStc5us

[AlwaysinModeration]

The requirement for these pages is a little bit of detail...so you have failed miserably.

 

Thanks for the detailed write-up. In his bullpen session it looks like he is having a real struggle getting the feel for the release on his curveball. Would be very nice for Thorpe to make a good comeback this year.

[Seth Stohs]

In some terrific news, Thorpe will be dressing with and pitching for the Ft. Myers Miracle on Friday, his first games in over two years. Good for him. He's been through the Tommy John procedure and other difficulties the last two years so I'm sure it's a great thing for him to get back on the mound!

[AZTwin]

In some terrific news, Thorpe will be dressing with and pitching for the Ft. Myers Miracle on Friday, his first games in over two years. Good for him. He's been through the Tommy John procedure and other difficulties the last two years so I'm sure it's a great thing for him to get back on the mound!

Something happen? He didn't pitch? Is he in the bullpen?

[goulik]

Something happen? He didn't pitch? Is he in the bullpen?

He is still listed on the 7 day DL for Cedar Rapids. I'm confused too....

[Seth Stohs]

 

Something happen? He didn't pitch? Is he in the bullpen?

 

Not sure... I grabbed it right off of his Instagram and Facebook pages... would have been a good game for him to eat some low pressure innings. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

He is still listed on the 7 day DL for Cedar Rapids. I'm confused too....

 

It's possible they changed their minds when Kernels SP Tyler Wells went on the DL today. He could make a start or two for Cedar Rapids until  Wells comes back and then he can move up... then again, Keaton Steele was sent to EST too, so there is an open spot. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

Any update on Thorpe? I can't find anything.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Any update on Thorpe? I can't find anything.

He's in Fort Myers when I saw this weekend.

[Oxtung]

Any new updates on Thorpe? His stats look pretty good. Very nice strike out rate, ok walk rate. Any news on his fastball velocity?

[Bob Sacamento]

Lefty Lewis Thorpe returned to professional ball for the first time in nearly three years (8/31/14) his first start back was 5/19 in Hi A Fort Myers .  Since returning his fastball has been sitting around 89-93 averaging 91 mph.  In his five outings, he's gone 22 IP, giving up 13 H, 1 HR, 5 ER, 7 BB, 26 K 2.05 ERA, .91 WHIP, .173 BAA, 10.6 K/9, 2.9 BB/9.  Of his 13 hits allowed 6 have been for extrabase hits: 4 2B, 1HR, 1 3B while inducing a 15:13 GB:FB ratio.  His pitch count has been: 49, 66, 84, 68, 60 in each start.  His changeup has looked like it's old self which is a plus pitch that induces swings and misses.  The curveball is further developed than his slider but still he has a four pitch arsenal with at least average offers for all four.

 

Below is my scouting grade for Lewis Thorpe based on seeing him.  20-80 scale, (45 is below avg, 50 is avg, 60 is plus, 70 is plus)

 

 

Bob's Grades:

 

FASTBALL: 50/55

CHANGEUP: 55/60

SLIDER: 40/45

CURVEBALL: 45/50

COMMAND: 50/55

 

OVERALL: 50/55

[laloesch]

 

 

 

 

This was Thorpe's third outing this spring, he went 3 IP throwing 62 pitches (35K/27BB) against the Red Sox Hi A affiliate team.  His FB was 88-91 mph sitting 88-89 with good movement. I know some fans were hoping for higher velo but it's still early in the process for that I'd be more happy with he flashed some good secondary pitches mainly a CV.  

He started off with solid control spotting the corners and working his FB inside, not afraid to throw in, setting up with curveball outside.  Lewis started off strong for the first two innings but unfortunately his control started to wane in his third inning.  Still for missing nearly two years of baseball a pretty good outing for the Aussie. 

 

Velocity

FB 88-91 mph (89 avg)

CV 77 -79 mph

CH 82-83 mph

SL 85-86 mph

 

 

 

1st IP

1st batter - 4 pitches (4 strikes) popup 1B

2nd batter - 3 pitches (3 strikes ) groundout 6-3

3rd batter - 4 pitches (3 strikes, 1 ball) strikeout

Total - 11 pitches (10 strikes, 1 ball)

 

2nd IP

1st batter - 5 pitches (3 strikes, 2 balls) Flyout F-8

2nd batter - 6 pitches (3 strikes, 3 balls) single between 4-3

3rd batter - 5 pitches (3 strikes, 2 balls) strikeout 

4th batter - 7 pitches (4 strikes, 3 balls) strikeout 

Total - 23 pitches (13 strikes, 10 balls)

 

3rd IP

1st batter - 8 pitches (4  strikes, 4 balls) Walk

2nd batter - 6 pitches (3 strikes, 3 balls) Flyout F-8

3rd batter - 5 pitches (4 balls, 1 strike) Walk

4th batter - 5 pitches (4 balls, 1 strike) Walk

5th batter - 4 pitches (3 strikes, 1 ball) strikeout

Total - 28 pitches (12 strikes, 16 balls)

 

Game Total -62 pitches (35 strikes, 27 balls)

Here's video of bullpen warmups, game warmups, and every game pitch by Lewis Thorpe but one to CJ Chatham in the first (a nasty curveball).

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2n6QStc5us

 

 

Any updates on his progress?  Is his fastball still sitting 89-91 mph?

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Any updates on his progress?  Is his fastball still sitting 89-91 mph?

In the post right above I stated, "Since returning his fastball has been sitting around 89-93 averaging 91 mph."

[laloesch]

 

In the post right above I stated, "Since returning his fastball has been sitting around 89-93 averaging 91 mph."

 

Oh okay.  i was just looking at the post above and the initial one "His FB was 88-91 mph sitting 88-89 with good movement" and "Since returning his fastball has been sitting around 89-93 averaging 91 mph" and saw a slight increase and thought that promising.  So he has picked up his FB velocity a bit? 

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Oh okay.  i was just looking at the post above and the initial one "His FB was 88-91 mph sitting 88-89 with good movement" and "Since returning his fastball has been sitting around 89-93 averaging 91 mph" and saw a slight increase and thought that promising.  So he has picked up his FB velocity a bit? 

Yep, he's almost, if not already, back to his velo before the surgery.

[Bob Sacamento]

Considering Thorpe hadn't pitched since 2014, he put in a very respectable line for a 21 year old in Hi A ball continuing his K/9, BB/9 rates in 2014. The lefty threw 83.0 in 17games/16starts all but one in the FSL.  In those 83 IP, he gave up 67 H, 5 HR, 33 BB, 91 K, 2.93 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, .225 BAA.  Thorpe finished strong with his velocity up to 95 mph for the lefty, giving him further separation on his circle changeup that adds further deception.

 

The offseason will be interesting to see if the Twins' send Thorpe to the Instructional League (starts in 2 weeks) or let him play in the Australian Baseball League (starts in November) for further work or simply have him rest the offseason as the 83 innings this year is his career high with his previous being 71 IP in 2014 before needing Tommy John surgery.

 

Thorpe will likely start the 2018 season in AA Chattanooga as a 22 year old.

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

 

Considering Thorpe hadn't pitched since 2014, he put in a very respectable line for a 21 year old in Hi A ball continuing his K/9, BB/9 rates in 2014. The lefty threw 83.0 in 17games/16starts all but one in the FSL.  In those 83 IP, he gave up 67 H, 5 HR, 33 BB, 91 K, 2.93 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, .225 BAA.  Thorpe finished strong with his velocity up to 95 mph for the lefty, giving him further separation on his circle changeup that adds further deception.

 

The offseason will be interesting to see if the Twins' send Thorpe to the Instructional League (starts in 2 weeks) or let him play in the Australian Baseball League (starts in November) for further work or simply have him rest the offseason as the 83 innings this year is his career high with his previous being 71 IP in 2014 before needing Tommy John surgery.

 

Thorpe will likely start the 2018 season in AA Chattanooga as a 22 year old.

 

 

Big fan!