Thorpe (elbow discomfort) exits rehab start early

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Drew Thorpe left his Minor League rehab start Thursday while warming up for a second inning of work with what White Sox manager Will Venable said “sounds like discomfort of the elbow.”

“We’ll evaluate it and likely do some imaging and see where we’re at,” said Venable during his media session prior to Thursday’s 2-1 Cactus League victory over the Angels at Camelback Ranch.

Thorpe underwent season-ending surgery on Sept. 7 of last season to shave down a bone spur in his right elbow. He experienced a couple of pain setbacks during offseason work, leading to the right-hander having a cortisone shot on Jan. 24, which also happened to be the first day of SoxFest Live. He has been working his way back through Spring Training bullpens and a pair of live BPs, without suffering anything more than normal soreness until Thursday.

Thursday’s start represented Thorpe’s first move back into game action.

“Really unfortunate,” Venable said. “He’s been working really hard to get back and obviously for the whole organization it's disappointing when there’s a setback, but for him he’s just been working so hard. Hopefully just a hiccup and he can just get back on track.”

SMITH GOES TO CHICAGO

Shane Smith thought making the White Sox Opening Day roster was a possibility from the first day he stepped foot in the team’s facilities at Camelback Ranch for Spring Training.

“Yeah, I did,” Smith said. “If you are going into something thinking you can’t do it, you are already lost. Expecting it wouldn’t be the right way but if I do what I can, I got a good shot.”

That good shot became 100 percent reality on Thursday, as the top pick in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft was told by Venable he will be breaking camp with the team. Smith not only has the Cactus League numbers to support his big league ascension, but also has improved his fastball velocity in the 98-100 mph range in addition to adding a changeup during the offseason.

It’s the sort of changes a healthy Smith believes are sustainable throughout the regular season.

“I don’t see why not. I think I have a good feel for stuff right now,” Smith said. “Working with [pitching coach Ethan] Katz and [assistant pitching coach Matt] Wise and just continuing to develop is the biggest thing. I don’t see why it can’t continue.

“Just being healthy for an extended period of time, you create that feel over a year or two years. It’s just getting a feel for who you are as a pitcher over time is the biggest thing.”

Smith is in the mix for one of the White Sox starter’s spots.

“He’s a great guy who is a true professional,” Venable said. “The stuff speaks for itself.”

“It means a lot to me,” Smith said. “The journey I’ve been on over the last couple of years, it’s everything.”

THIRD TO FIRST

? Andrew Benintendi felt pretty good after playing Wednesday in his first game since Feb. 27, when he suffered a non-displaced fracture under his right pinky knuckle after being hit by a pitch. He would like to get in a game or two defensively in left field over the next four days, but is ready to serve as designated hitter if that gets him to Opening Day.

“If that’s how it played out, yeah,” Benintendi said. “As long as I’m out there, that’s all I really care about.”

? Martín Pérez, who struck out five over four scoreless innings Thursday, will stay in Arizona on March 25 and pitch five innings. He’ll join the team in Chicago after that start, being in line to pitch the series finale against the Angels on Sunday.

“I'm ready,” Pérez said. “I'm ready to go up there to Chicago and compete."