Catching Up With Lewis Thorpe

First, let’s go back in time just a bit. Lewis Thorpe was called up to Cedar Rapids in June of 2014. He experienced some ups and downs with the Kernels but put up numbers that are very encouraging. Especially for someone who only turned 19 last November. However, he was shut down after his final start of the season. Doctors found that he had a partial tear in his UCL (ulnar collateral ligament).

Any tear, partial or full, of the UCL usually means that Tommy John surgery is imminent. There are several examples of pitchers who have been diagnosed with partial UCL tears who didn’t have Tommy John surgery. Twins starter Ervin Santana missed time late in 2008 and early in 2009 with a partially torn UCL and has yet to have the surgery. Adam Wainwright went five years before he needed to have the surgery. Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka is attempting to buck the odds.

So the Twins went with the rest-and-rehab plan with Thorpe. In early March, I watched him throw to batters for the first time off of the mound. I also saw him pitch (and look really good) in an intra-squad game a few days later. And then it happened, and Thorpe knew it right away. His Twins minor league team was taking on a team of Rays minor leaguers.

“I knew I tore it right away.”

It wasn’t long before he learned that he would have to have the surgery. “I was a little annoyed at first, but then I got in my head that this is just a minor speed bump in my career.”

On April 10^th, Dr. John Steubs and Dr. Pearce McCarty performed the surgery, and it went well. “They are both great doctors and did a very good job.”

Thorpe had to keep his left arm in a sling, with a half cast, for ten days. Then he was in a brace for about eight weeks. He had to wait two-and-a-half months before he could start working out, and then he was told only with body weight.

Three months later, he is able to do more. “Now I’m doing upper body light, and I’m basically back to normal on the lower body.”

His days in Ft. Myers are spent with a routine. Fortunately, he is able to stay at the Twins dorms where he is rooming with fellow Australian Lachlan Wells. The bullet points below describe what Lewis Thorpe says a typical days consists of for him. He is working with minor league rehab coordinator Chad Jackson.

• Wake up and eat breakfast
  
• Get in to the training room by 7:30.
  
• Do as much rehab as I can get done before 9:00.
  
• The team stretches at 9 and he joins them.
  
• While they play catch, he continues to stretch.
  
• Go back in and get the rest of my rehab done.
  
• Lift is at 10:30.
  
• When that’s done (around 11:30), he goes and eats.
  

At noon, the GCL Twins play. Thorpe watches them play when they are at home, which is usually three times per week. He said, “It’s good to get out there in the fresh air and see all of the talent coming through the Twins organization.”

And after the GCL game is complete? “Then go take a nice little nap!”

It’s a grueling recovery for a Tommy John rehabber. The odds that a pitcher fully recovers after surgery are fairly high, but in order to do that, the rehab needs to be very structured. That can be challenging.

Thorpe said, “The toughest part is just knowing you have to come in every day and repeat the same stuff. That’s why it’s called The Grind.”

One thing you likely noticed is that Thorpe did not mention picking up a baseball or throwing it yet. That’s because he hasn’t. Not yet, but that date is coming soon. “Middle of August! Basically it’s four months after surgery.”

He’s not in this alone. There are several Twins and Twins minor leaguers who have had the surgery before. There are others in Ft. Myers who are at various stages of their rehab.

“BJ Hermsen has been a big help with me, pushing me, and giving me advice. He had the surgery two days before me. It’s always easier having someone that’s dealing with the same stuff you are.”

There are others that he stays in contact with as well. He said that he has received good advice from (Rochester Red Wings All-Star 2B) James Beresford and (former Twins farmhand and long-time Braves reliever) Peter Moylan. He said that (former Twins and current Blue Jays pitcher) Liam Hendriks has also reached out and talked to him during his rehab. He said it was nice that several fellow Aussies have been there for him to talk to through this rehab.

In mid-June, Lewis’s parents made the trek from Melbourne, Australia, to Ft. Myers. It meant a lot for Lewis to see his family. He said, “It was awesome seeing my family. It definitely made it a lot easier being with them for three weeks. They said to me that they love me and everything’s going to be alright. I just have to keep working hard and not give up on my dreams.”

He won’t do that. He’s actually looking forward to reaching and then passing the milestones that are in front of him. Asked if he had any message for Twins fans, Thorpe took the opportunity to say, “I’ll be back next year with high hopes and ready to play! I can’t wait to be playing again.”

I told Thorpe that I frequently get asked for updates on how he is doing in his rehab. He wanted to extend this additional message to his fans. “I want to thank all of them for their support. I really appreciate everyone who is thinking of me!”