Mustang Spotlight: Drew Thorpe
3/16/2022 2:45:00 PM | Baseball
By Catie Logan, Cal Poly Athletics
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — This season right-handed pitcher Drew Thorpe is Cal Poly's No. 1 starter. Thorpe has developed significantly over his three years at Cal Poly, earning him 15th best starting pitcher in the nation by D1baseball.com and Big West Pitcher of the Week twice, to name a few titles.
Thorpe grew up in Utah. He earned All-Utah honors for three straight years at Desert Hills High School. During his senior year, he compiled 67 strikeouts over 51 1/3 innings and a 1.93 ERA. 
Undrafted out of high school, Thorpe was recruited by Pepperdine and Cal State Fullerton, among others, but ultimately chose Cal Poly. Thorpe was initially introduced to the area via family he has in nearby Santa Maria.
"When I came out to a couple baseball camps here, I fell in love with the area and coaching staff," Thorpe said. "Cal Poly seemed to be the best fit for me."
In 2020, Thorpe's freshman year, he started four games as the Sunday starter. He had a 3.21 ERA before the season was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the Friday night starter in 2021, the sophomore had a team-leading 104 strikeouts in 90 1/3 innings.
This past summer, Drew played in the Cape Cod League for two and a half weeks with fellow teammate Brooks Lee. There, he said he enjoyed being in a new area and meeting new guys.
Thorpe was then called up to the USA Collegiate National Team alongside Lee. "Being with the best players in the country for my age group and having Brooks with me was enjoyable. I appreciated learning about how my teammates do certain things at their schools."
He then said, "Wearing USA across your chest is the best feeling."
From when he first stepped on campus to now, Thorpe has felt himself progress on and off the field. "I've grown a ton in the past three years as a player and a person. The coaching staff here has a huge part in that. This program has been a huge help to me."
He attributes much of his success to head coach Larry Lee. "To me, Coach Lee is the best coach in college baseball. Working with Coach Lee has been great. Being around him and learning from him has gotten me where I am today."
Drew also talks of pitching coach Jake Silverman, who began his career at Cal Poly when Thorpe was a freshman. "Coach Silverman worked under (UCLA head coach) John Savage for a few years. He took a lot from him (Savage), and he knows what he's talking about. Following his plan over these past three years has allowed me to improve immensely."
Thorpe has had an impressive 2022 season so far. He threw his first career complete-game shutout last Friday against Harvard, helping Cal Poly earn a 5-0 victory.
Drew currently leads the Big West in strikeouts by 13 with 44 strikeouts in four games. This has caused many to dub Thorpe as a strikeout pitcher. When asked if that is his aim, he responds, "yes and no, I have swing and miss pitches. That's how I've been the past three years. The changeup has always been my best pitch. I don't go out with the intention to strike everyone out, but if it happens, it happens. It has tended to be that way the first few games though."
Thorpe has been known for his excellent composure on the mound. "I am a pretty even-keeled person, quiet and reserved. That helps me each game. I just try to stay calm and get to the next pitch."
Like many baseball players, Drew does have a game day superstition. Before each inning, he steps over the foul line with his left foot.
"My team goal is to make a regional and win the Big West," Thorpe said of his season goals. "We have focused on both of those since the fall."
His personal goal is to break the season strikeout record for Cal Poly. Erik Bratlien currently holds the mark with 140 in the 1988 season. Thorpe is No. 10 on the list with his 104 strikeouts a year ago.
After the season, he aspires to hear his name called at this year's MLB Draft in July. "That is something I've looked forward to my whole life as long as I've played baseball."
Although that is his ultimate individual goal, he wants to keep the focus on the current season right now.
Continuing their homestand, the Mustangs will host CSUN this weekend for a three-game series, starting Friday night at 6 p.m. with Thorpe on the mound.
