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Despite starting 2026 in Double-A, Zac Thornton 'always thought' he'd finish year with Mets
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- Despite starting 2026 in Double-A, Zac Thornton 'always thought' he'd finish year with Mets
Despite the team's 3-1 road loss to the Texas Rangers on Thursday , Mets starting pitcher Zac Thorntonput the finishing touches on a very promising rookie year.
In his final start, Thornton allowed two runs on four hits, walked just one batter, and struck out four across five innings.
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"Really solid," manager Andy Greensaid of the rookie southpaw's season. "I don't think anybody could've had higher expectations than what he went out there and did."
"It's a tribute to him and how hard he works," the skipper continued. "He's getting more strikeouts recently too. He's reaching back and firing 95+ (miles per hour), which is encouraging and bodes really well for the future."
Over 15 starts, Thornton recorded a 3.42 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. Following his start, he ranks fifth in the National League in walk rate (5.3 percent) among pitchers with at least 80 innings.
Having begun the 2026 season with Double-A Binghamton, Thornton was called up to the big leagues on May 20 and made his debut against the Washington Nationals on the road.
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While the circumstances were certainly fast-paced for the 24-year-old hurler, he hasn't been surprised at his success translating his game to the highest level.
"I always thought I'd be up here this year, I just didn't know to what extent it would be," Thornton asserted postgame. "It just so happened that we had a few injuries, and following the trade deadline, we had a lot of open spots."
"I wouldn't say I surprised myself," he went on to declare. "I feel everywhere I've gone to pitch I've succeeded, and I'm going to continue to do that, carrying it over to next year."
Thornton is one-quarter of the four Mets rookies who have shone in the team's starting rotation in 2026, alongside ace Nolan McLean , breakout Christian Scott, and the emerging Jonah Tong.
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He touched on their relationship and promised that the best is yet to come for the fearsome young foursome.
"We love each other," Thornton stated. "It's sad that the season is over because we don't get to spend time with each other now."
"What you saw on the field was just a small sample size," he concluded. "All four of us are going to get better."
