Somerset RHP Drew Thorpe and C/1B Ben Rice Named Double-A Eastern League Pitcher and Player of the Week

August 14, 2023 - Eastern League (EL)
Somerset Patriots News Release

Somerset Patriots RHP Drew Thorpe
(Somerset Patriots)

Thorpe, the Yankees No. 5 prospect, made his Double-A debut on Friday, August 11 and allowed just two hits and struck out nine in eight shutout innings to earn the win. After allowing a leadoff hit in the first inning on the second hit of the game, Thorpe went on to retire 20 straight Binghamton Rumble Ponies.

Friday marked the third time this season that Thorpe has gone 8+ scoreless IP, making him the only pitcher in MiLB to accomplish the feat. The Yankees No. 5 prospect finished the day with 147 strikeouts on the season, tied for tops in all of MiLB.

Thorpe leads all Yankees minor leaguers in ERA (2.62), W (11), SO (138) and WHIP (1.02). The second-round pick by the Yankees in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo made his professional debut in 2023.

Thorpe has twice been named the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week this season, most recently for the week of July 17-23, where the 22-year-old right-handed starter set a new Hudson Valley franchise record with his 13-strikeout performance on July 22 vs. Brooklyn over eight shutout innings, allowing only two hits. With the performance, Thorpe also surpassed the Renegades single season strikeout record of 119.

Additionally, Thorpe was named the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Month for June, going 3-0 with a 0.31 ERA in four starts over the month, highlighted by a 25-inning scoreless streak, where he allowed just an earned run on 12 hits over 28 â..." innings pitched.

Rice went 12-for-23 (.521) for the week with 2 HR, 9 RBI and 7 R in six games, splitting time as catcher, first baseman and designated hitter.

Since joining Somerset on July 18, Rice has slashed .342/.422/.696 with 16 R, 27 H, 5 2B, 3B, 7 HR and 25 RBI in 20 games played.

He has multi-hit games in four of his last seven games and went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBI on August 10 versus Binghamton. On Sunday, Rice went 2-for-3 with a walk, registering his ninth multi-hit game of the season for Somerset.

Rice was selected in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Yankees. MLB Pipeline recently adding Rice to their Yankees Top-30 prospects rankings, coming in at No. 23.

They become the fourth and fifth Patriots this season to be honored by MiLB as a Player/Pitcher of the Week, joining Tyler Hardman (2X, June 26 - July 2, July 17 - 23) and RHP Clayton Beeter (June 5 - 11). Hardman was also named the Eastern League Player of the Month for July.

Somerset Patriots C/1B Ben Rice

Somerset Patriots RHP Drew Thorpe

Eastern League Stories from August 14, 2023

• Somerset RHP Drew Thorpe and C/1B Ben Rice Named Double-A Eastern League Pitcher and Player of the Week - Somerset Patriots
• Cleveland Guardians Cal Quantrill to Rehab Tuesday at Canal Park - Akron RubberDucks

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Somerset Patriots Stories

• Flores Homers in Series Finale Loss to Erie Sunday
• Burt Blasts Game-Breaking Double to Spark Patriots' Win Over Erie Saturday
• Sellers Shoves, But Diners Dazed in Friday Night Loss to Erie
• Spencer Jones Promoted from Double-A Somerset to Triple-A Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre
• Jones Walks it Off, Lombard Stars in Extra Innings Win over Erie Thursday