Mets Promote Zach Thornton to Major League Roster Amid Injury-Related Depth Calls The New York Mets officially promoted pitching prospect Zach Thornton to their active roster on May 20th, marking a significant move as the team navigates a challenging injury situation. The decision came after the Mets placed right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes on the 15-day injured list due to a fractured right fibula, which could sideline him into August. Thornton, a 24-year-old right-hander, will join the team as a potential spot starter or long reliever, with his role yet to be fully determined. The promotion follows a series of roster adjustments, including the option of Daniel Duarte and the recall of Nick Morabito, which cleared space for Thornton on the 40-man roster. Thornton, a fifth-round draft pick by the Mets in 2023, has emerged as a key prospect in the organization’s system. His 2025 season, cut short by an oblique injury, showcased his potential. Across High-A and Double-A levels, he pitched 72 2/3 innings, posting a 1.98 earned runs per nine innings ratio. His strikeout rate of 28.5% and walk rate of 4% highlighted his control and effectiveness, while his ground ball rate of 43.2% demonstrated his ability to limit extra-base hits. These numbers earned him recognition as one of the top prospects in the Mets’ system, with Baseball America ranking him 13th and FanGraphs placing him 12th in their respective rankings. Entering the 2026 season, Thornton’s stock has risen further. After five starts at Double-A and two at Triple-A, he has accumulated 37 innings with a 3.16 ERA, a 26.5% strikeout rate, and a 7.9% walk rate. His ground ball rate of 44.4% has remained consistent, reinforcing his value as a reliable pitcher.#new_york_mets #carlos_mendoza #baseball_america #clay_holmes #zach_thornton
Zach Thornton's Journey from Collegiate Baseball to MLB Prospect Zach Thornton, a 21-year-old left-handed pitcher, has carved out a path from humble beginnings in Kansas to becoming a notable prospect for the New York Mets. Born to a pair of collegiate track athletes, Thornton’s athletic career diverged from his parents’ sport, leading him to excel in baseball. His journey began at Lawrence Free State High School in Kansas, where he developed as a high school pitcher. Despite his talent, he was not a top prospect due to a combination of factors, including the loss of his senior season to the COVID-19 pandemic. This, coupled with his lack of draft attention, led him to attend Barton Community College in Great Bend, Kansas, a junior college just a few hours from his hometown. Thornton’s college career at Barton saw steady progress. In 2021, he appeared in 14 games, starting 13, and posted a 4.01 ERA over 60.2 innings. His performance earned him a spot in the Sunflower Collegiate League, where he further refined his skills with a 4.18 ERA in 32.1 innings. The following year, he returned to Barton for his sophomore season, starting all 15 games and improving his ERA to 2.63 in 78.2 innings. This success caught the attention of larger programs, and by 2022, he was offered a spot at Grand Canyon University for his junior year. At Grand Canyon, Thornton became a mainstay in the weekend rotation, posting a 3.87 ERA in 88.1 innings. His performance in NCAA Division I baseball caught the eye of the Mets, who selected him in the 2023 MLB Draft with their fifth-round pick (159th overall). The Mets signed him for $350,000, slightly below the slot value of $378,000 for that pick.#new_york_mets #zach_thornton #lawrence_free_state_high_school #barton_community_college #grand_canyon_university
