Mets To Select Zach Thornton This Week
The Mets are going to advertise pitching prospects Zach Thornton this week. Manager Carlos Mendoza knowledgeable reporters, together with Tim Britton of The Athleticthat Thornton will play some form of position for the Mets on Wednesday. That could possibly be as a starter or working as a bulk man behind an opener. Thornton isn’t but on the 40-man roster, so the Mets should make room for him someway.
Thornton, now 24, was a fifth-round choose of the Mets in 2023. He put himself on the prospect map with a robust 2025 season. He solely made 14 begins earlier than an indirect damage ended his season, however the numbers had been good. Between High-A and Double-A, he tossed 72 2/3 innings, permitting 1.98 earned runs per 9. He struck out 28.5% of batters confronted and solely walked 4% of opponents. He additionally induced grounders on 43.2% of balls in play.
Coming into 2026, Baseball America ranked him the #13 prospect within the system and FanGraphs had him twelfth. He would not have enormous velocity, averaging simply 91 miles per hour along with his fastball lately, however each BA and FG spotlight his wonderful command. FG additionally highlights his vertical slot and his potential to cover the ball as a part of his supply. His full arsenal features a four-seamer, sinker, slider, cutter, curveball and changeup.
He has continued to submit good numbers this yr, with 5 Double-A begins and two at Triple-A. Combined, he has thrown 37 innings with a 3.16 ERA, 26.5% strikeout charge, 7.9% stroll charge and 44.4% floor ball charge. BA bumped him as much as #10 within the system in today’s update.
The Mets are dipping into their depth as a result of latest damage to Clay Holmeswho fractured his proper fibula and may be sidelined into August. Christian Scott is beginning tonight and Nolan McLean tomorrow. Wednesday would have been Holmes’s flip. The Mets have some lengthy reduction choices on the roster, though Sean Manaea simply tossed 4 innings behind Freddy Peralta yesterday. Tobias Myers you will have beginning expertise however hasn’t tossed greater than three innings in any recreation this yr.
Thornton will at the least get a spot begin. What stays to be seen is that if he’ll get despatched again to the minors after that or if he’ll stick round. For the following flip, they may put Manaea or Myers into the Holmes spot. They may additionally flip to another person on the farm, corresponding to Jonah Tong, Jack Wenninger or Jonathan Pintaro.
Photo courtesy of Jim Rassol, Imagn Images