Yankees' top prospect from Juan Soto trade has bleak Chicago White Sox debut

If there are no Getty Images photos of former Yankees farmhand Drew Thorpe's extremely bleak Chicago White Sox debut, did it even happen?

Thorpe was put through the ringer this offseason, through no fault of his own, during what should've been a relaxing few months of gloating after taking home Yankees' Minor-League Pitcher of the Year honors. Unfortunately, all that award earned him was a ticket to Chicago with a lengthy layover in San Diego.

The righty with the devastating changeup was sent to the Padres (unwillingly by Brian Cashman, it seemed) in exchange for Juan Soto. Early rumors indicated Cash was balking at the price of Thorpe-and-Michael-King-plus for Soto, but ultimately, he relented.

Though Thorpe's big-league ceiling remains unclear, you certainly can't argue with the results thus far, and his eye-catching spring training tempted the Chicago White Sox into nodding their heads at the right-hander's inclusion in the Dylan Cease trade package that shocked America. Weren't ... the Padres ... resetting? And didn't ... they want Thorpe ... to be a part of that reset? Nope. Star-hunting. Again. Sorry. Chicago it is.

Former Yankees farmhand Drew Thorpe struggles in Chicago with White Sox

In what might've been the result of severe trade whiplash, Thorpe's readjustment to the American League didn't go as planned in his ChiSox debut.

The changeup wasn't changing much of anything, as the deceptive right-hander was forced to "flush" his first appearance in a White Sox uniform, quipping, "It's baseball. S**t happens." That's true, but you'd always rather it happen to someone else.

All told, Thorpe allowed a first-pitch double to Guardians prospect Brayan Rocchio, then back-to-back bombs before the end of the first inning, resulting in a six-run frame he'd rather forget. Before the end of his rope, he reentered and exited two more runs "richer," allowing eight total on the day in under three innings of work (10 hits, too).

Thorpe certainly could play a role in Chicago's fate sooner rather than later. After all, a rotation relying on starter-turned-reliever-turned-starter-again Garrett Crochet on Opening Day is clearly thin on arms, especially after waving Cease out the door to San Diego.

The 23-year-old doesn't blow opposing hitters away, but he typically doesn't spiral, either, able to earn plenty of swing-and-miss from his remarkable change of pace. Consider this week a wake-up call that it won't always be smooth sailing, but certainly not a permanent black mark on Thorpe's new black-and-white uniform.