Don't Give Up On Lewis Thorpe

[Cody Pirkl]

2020 was a nightmare season for Lewis Thorpe. The Australian lefty just never got his footing and looked ineffective in what was essentially a lost season. While there wasn’t a single Twins fan who was arguing to keep Thorpe on the Major League roster by mid season, it may also be a mistake to completely give up on him.Even before this season turned into the patented nightmare 2020 we’ve all grown accustomed to, Thorpe was already struggling. He showed up in the spring as the favorite for many to snatch the 5th starting spot. Instead he was sent to the minor league side of camp after taking an absence from the Twins training facility.

 

 

While it’s easy to say that a 2-3 week absence from Spring Training should likely remove you from the rotation battle, it’s hard not to feel for the guy when he’s so far from home.

 

Then came the mess that was the 2020 baseball season. Spring Training was halted only to be picked back up months later. Thorpe competed in summer camp and received opportunities, but he just never looked right. His fastball had dropped from 91.2 to 89.7, rarely touching 90 on the radar gun. In some outings the fastball was as low as 86-87. The rest of his offspeed pitches dropped a few ticks as well as he just never had an effective pitch to turn to with the life missing from his fastball. There were no indications of injury.

 

Most troubling of all, his walk rate ballooned to 13% (matching his strikeout rate). Unlike his 6+ ERA in 2019, his 6.06 ERA in 2020 was backed up by a 6.99 FIP. He had a career high walk rate as well as a K rate about half of what he put up in any other professional season. Everything matched up to the eye test that was telling us that it just wasn’t working out. Is it a coincidence that this happened in the weirdest season in MLB history though?

 

In addition to a mess of pitching injuries, tons of pitchers began the season with steep declines in fastball velocity including big names like James Paxton, Charlie Morton and Blake Snell. The slow ramp up of Spring Training gave way to a rush to the start of the season in July’s summer camp. Many of them ironed out their velocity issues as they continued making starts. Unfortunately for Thorpe, he was in bullpen duty and didn’t have much of a routine. He was eventually sent down and wasn’t seen throughout September.

 

While Thorpe certainly dropped a few spots in the depth chart as a result of his 2020, it’s fair to mention that he’s only a year removed from being a pitcher the Twins were excited about. There’s no guarantee that Thorpe is going to be back with a vengeance in 2021. His 2020 was nothing short of brutal and we have no minor league numbers to see if he made any improvements after his demotion.

 

That being said, he’s a talented left handed pitcher who fell flat in a season that we’ll likely see many players rebound from in years to come. He’s definitely still a commodity that other teams would give a shot to, and certainly has shown the talent to make the most of it. I don’t think the Twins are going to give up on Lewis Thorpe, and I don’t think that we as fans should want them to.

 

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[Danchat]

I dunno... even when Thorpe was giving up less walks and generated far more strikeouts in 2019, he was still getting hit hard. He simply throws too soft, doesn't have a great breaking ball, and had zero command (2020). I suppose he's a guy they could try moving to the bullpen full-time to see if he can get his fastball up a few notches, but at this point he has to be a DFA candidate. This FO gave up on Stephen Gonsalves rather quickly, and Thorpe might be in the same boat.

[mikelink45]

Good article, but right now I have given up and ready to move on.  There are some good prospects that I think have passed both him and Smeltzer on the prospect list for starters.

 

[rdehring]

No one has been a bigger fan of Thorpe than I. But after watching him struggle this past season, am beginning to believe that with his stuff he has to be perfect on every pitch to be successful. And that just ain't gonna happen over a long season.

 

So count me amongst those who remain hopeful...but a big doubter.

[terrydactyls]

This review gives me hope. And that hope is that if Thorpe is "still a commodity other teams would give a shot to," the Twins trade him this off-season for whatever they can get.

[stringer bell]

I haven't seen enough to give up, but I've seen enough to have plenty of doubt. Thorpe hasn't demonstrated sufficient command to get away with the stuff he has IMHO. Perhaps 2020 was more difficult for him than others due to the pandemic and whatever other issues he had in spring training, but I have to believe he's only going to get one more chance, if that.

[4twinsJA]

Thope, Smeltzer are 2 years from arbitration, will likely be somewhere in Twins system next year. Both have looked good at times, but have struggled to go more than 3-4 IP at a time, maybe bullpen candidates.

[USAFChief]

Move him to the pen, hope that he gains a little velo, and focusing on 2 pitches improves command.

[Greglw3]

I was going to say that aside from the lousy 2020, his 2019 was wretched as well. But something in my gut tells me you are correct about not giving up on him. Two words: Liam Hendricks

[D.C Twins]

Woops! Already did...

[Major League Ready]

 

I was going to say that aside from the lousy 2020, his 2019 was wretched as well. But something in my gut tells me you are correct about not giving up on him. Two words: Liam Hendricks

 

Hendricks was waived three times and traded twice before he became an impact player so the comparison makes no sense. On the other hand, Tampa's BP has benefited greatly from out cast-offs. I would sure would have liked to have Nick Anderson this year plus 4 more years of team control. 

[bighat]

 

Good article, but right now I have given up and ready to move on.  There are some good prospects that I think have passed both him and Smeltzer on the prospect list for starters.

Agreed - frankly I've passed on them for starters and for bullpen as well. They both seem to be, at best, mop-up guys. No point in keeping guys like this on the roster.

 

Thorpe and Smeltzer aren't Matt Garza types who simply have unharnessed stuff. They don't have the stuff in the first place.

[bighat]

 

 

I was going to say that aside from the lousy 2020, his 2019 was wretched as well. But something in my gut tells me you are correct about not giving up on him. Two words: Liam Hendricks

Any team would have given up on Liam Hendricks, and nobody faults the Twins, Blue Jays or KC for giving up on him when they did. He's had three good years in nine MLB seasons and still owns a career ERA above 4.00.

[jkcarew]

I think the point is, it's easy to 'not give up' on a guy when you're not faced with any roster decisions. Even Anderson...despite how it looks now, would have been a relatively risky add to the 40-man AT THAT TIME if the Twins has elected to go that route.

 

For better or worse, Thorpe is already on the roster. We need a reason to remove him...a name. But who? Who's the lefty in the minors that's pushing? The Twins have these left-handers on the 40-man: Rogers, Thielbar, Smeltzer, and Thorpe. The bar for a left-handed pitcher to join (or in Thorpe's case, remain on) this roster is incredibly low.

[DocBauer]

Also have doubts about Thorpe at this point even though I've been a pretty strong believer in him. I'm willing to give him a mulligan for 2020 and I'd like to keep him around for another year.

 

I hope Clippard is around next year. He's a bit of a priority in my mind and works as a 2nd LHRP even though he's a RH. I'd probably/maybe keep Thorpe as a SP for as long as possible to keep him stretched out and get his IP to keep working on his stuff. But I would strongly consider moving him to the pen where his velocity may play up and you just might have a solid 1-2 IP reliever.

 

He's never had outstanding velocity. But his milb numbers, including SO numbers, have just been too good to ignore. I felt he flashed some in 2019. But we have to see SOMETHING much more encouraging in 2021 for him to remain beyond that.

[Melissa]

I think Thorpe should have a SP role in AAA next year, assuming there is a minor league season. He could work on his velocity and command without it harming the big league club. Then if he does well, and the need arises, bring him back up.

[nicksaviking]

Move him to the pen, hope that he gains a little velo, and focusing on 2 pitches improves command.

Totally agree. The Twins should never give up on fringe starter prospects before giving them a season and a half in the pen. Of course Aussie lefty Liam Hendricks comes to mind, but other non Ausie’s like Andrew Miller or Brad Hand or Zach Britton. Or Taylor Rogers.