Trending Now - Mets' Thornton Honors Paralyzed Dad at His Debut Game
WHO:
MLB.com - Paul Thornton, Zach Thornton, Julie Thornton, Clay Holmes, Carlos Mendoza, Jonah Tong
NY Post - Zach Thornton
WHAT:
MLB.com - Paul Thornton was in the wheelchair section behind Section 114 at Nationals Park during Zach Thornton's debut.
MLB.com - Paul Thornton stated, "I wasn’t going to miss this for the world," regarding attending his son's debut.
MLB.com - Zach Thornton allowed a three-run homer to CJ Abrams in the first inning of his debut.
MLB.com - Zach Thornton retired nine of the final 10 batters he faced during his debut.
MLB.com - The Mets are considering using Jonah Tong as a spot starter in Miami, contingent on weather conditions and bullpen usage.
MLB.com - Manager Carlos Mendoza mentioned, "There’s a chance that he plays a part in the Miami series for us," regarding Jonah Tong's potential role.
MLB.com - Jonah Tong has pitched inconsistently since his Major League debut last August, with a 7.71 ERA in five starts.
MLB.com - Jonah Tong allowed seven runs (six earned) in his last outing before the potential Miami start.
MLB.com - Zach Thornton is the Mets' 13th-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline.
MLB.com - Jonah Tong has a 5.68 ERA through nine starts at Triple-A Syracuse.
MLB.com - Jonah Tong allowed six earned runs in seven innings this spring.
MLB.com - Jonah Tong struck out 179 batters over 113 2/3 innings in the upper Minors last season, with a 1.43 ERA.
MLB.com - Jonah Tong is currently the organization’s No. 2 prospect behind outfielder A.J. Ewing.
MLB.com - Zach Thornton made his Major League debut for the Mets.
MLB.com - Paul Thornton underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his spine, resulting in temporary lower-body paralysis.
MLB.com - Zach allowed four earned runs over 4 1/3 innings, striking out three in his debut.
MLB.com - The Mets lost the game 8-4 against the Nationals.
MLB.com - The Mets scratched second-ranked prospect Jonah Tong from his scheduled start at Triple-A Syracuse.
WHERE:
MLB.com - Nationals Park, Washington
MLB.com - Physical therapy facility in Chicago
MLB.com - Triple-A Syracuse
WHEN:
MLB.com - Zach Thornton's debut occurred on a Wednesday night.
MLB.com - Paul Thornton's surgery took place seven weeks prior to the game.
MLB.com - The Mets are considering using Jonah Tong as a spot starter in Miami over the upcoming weekend.
WHY:
MLB.com - The Mets are considering using Jonah Tong to give their other starters an extra day of rest during a stretch of 16 games in 16 days.
MLB.com - Paul Thornton wanted to attend his son's debut despite his health challenges.
MLB.com - The Mets needed a starting pitcher due to Clay Holmes breaking his right fibula.
HOW:
MLB.com - Jonah Tong has been working on mechanical adjustments that Mets officials believe are the root cause of his pitching issues.
MLB.com - Paul Thornton documented his recovery progress on Instagram.
MLB.com - The Mets are keeping options open regarding Jonah Tong's potential role based on the performance of their bullpen and weather conditions.
(UPDATED May 21, 2026 08:13 UTC)
In an emotional moment at Nationals Park, Paul Thornton expressed his determination to be there for his son Zach's debut, saying, "I wasn’t going to miss this for the world." Zach faced a challenging start, allowing a three-run homer to CJ Abrams in the first inning, but he bounced back impressively by retiring nine of the final ten batters he faced. Meanwhile, the Mets are contemplating using Jonah Tong as a spot starter in Miami, with manager Carlos Mendoza noting that "there’s a chance that he plays a part in the Miami series for us," despite Tong's recent struggles on the mound.
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(UPDATED May 21, 2026 06:21 UTC)
The Mets have ranked Zach Thornton as their 13th prospect, while Jonah Tong sits at No. 2 behind outfielder A.J. Ewing. Despite a challenging start at Triple-A Syracuse with a 5.68 ERA over nine games, Tong had an impressive season last year, striking out 179 batters in just over 113 innings with a 1.43 ERA. The team is considering utilizing Tong to provide their starting pitchers with an extra day of rest during an upcoming stretch of 16 games in 16 days, as he works on mechanical adjustments to address his recent struggles.
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(UPDATED May 21, 2026 04:22 UTC)
Zach Thornton made his Major League debut for the Mets at Nationals Park, where he allowed four earned runs over four and a third innings, striking out three, but the team ultimately lost to the Nationals with a score of eight to four. Meanwhile, Paul Thornton underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his spine, which has resulted in temporary lower-body paralysis, but he still aimed to attend his son's debut despite his health challenges. The Mets are considering using second-ranked prospect Jonah Tong as a spot starter in Miami over the upcoming weekend due to the need for a starting pitcher after Clay Holmes broke his right fibula.