From Underdog to Ace: Zac Thornton's Rise in Mets' Rotation
WHO:
MLB.com - Zac Thornton, a rookie left-hander for the New York Mets.
MLB.com - Brett McBride, pitching coach at Barton Community College.
MLB.com - Brandon Sproat, a fellow player who entered professional baseball alongside Thornton.
WHAT:
MLB.com - Thornton closed the Brewers series having allowed just one run over his past three starts, maintaining an 18-inning scoreless streak.
MLB.com - Thornton stated, "I always thought that I was going to play college baseball and even professional baseball. I didn't know how it was going to happen. But I was going to do it."
MLB.com - Thornton's pitching coach, Brett McBride, noted that Thornton was "probably 78 to 80 [mph]" when he first joined Barton Community College.
MLB.com - Thornton's approach to pitching is to "throw strike one. Force contact. Stay out of hitter's counts."
MLB.com - Thornton has allowed just one run over his past three starts, carrying an 18-inning scoreless streak.
MLB.com - Thornton did not receive a single Division I offer coming out of high school.
MLB.com - Thornton was selected in the 2023 Draft and has climbed through four levels of the Mets' organization.
NY Post - Thornton has emerged as a pitching sensation for the Mets.
WHERE:
MLB.com - Thornton attended Lawrence Free State High School in Lawrence, Kansas.
MLB.com - Barton Community College is located in Great Bend, Kansas.
MLB.com - The Mets play their home games in New York.
WHEN:
MLB.com - The 2026 Trade Deadline is set for August 3, 2026, at 6 p.m. ET.
WHY:
MLB.com - Thornton credits Barton Community College for creating "a really good brotherhood-type atmosphere" that helped build his confidence.
MLB.com - Thornton credits Barton Community College for building his confidence and providing a supportive environment.
MLB.com - Thornton's approach to pitching is based on attacking the strike zone and trusting his abilities.
HOW:
MLB.com - Thornton's pitching style involves "attacking the strike zone" and trusting his abilities, which he believes has been consistent throughout his career.
MLB.com - Thornton's pitching style involves forcing contact rather than aiming for strikeouts, as he believes hitting is the hardest thing to do in sports.
MLB.com - Thornton transferred to Grand Canyon University after two seasons at Barton, where he became one of the nation's better left-handed starters.
(UPDATED July 24, 2026 13:27 UTC)
In a standout performance, Thornton closed the Brewers series with an impressive 18-inning scoreless streak, allowing just one run over his last three starts. Reflecting on his journey, he shared that he always believed he would play college and professional baseball, even if he wasn't sure how it would happen, while his pitching coach noted that he started out throwing around 78 to 80 miles per hour when he joined Barton Community College. Thornton attributes his success to the supportive environment at the college, which fostered a strong sense of brotherhood and confidence, and he emphasizes his approach of attacking the strike zone and trusting his abilities throughout his career.
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(UPDATED July 24, 2026 12:24 UTC)
Zac Thornton, a rookie left-hander for the New York Mets, has been making waves in Major League Baseball with an impressive 18-inning scoreless streak, allowing just one run over his last three starts. After not receiving any Division I offers out of high school, Thornton climbed through four levels of the Mets' organization, thanks in part to the confidence he built at Barton Community College, where he honed his skills under pitching coach Brett McBride. As the 2026 Trade Deadline approaches on August 3 at 6 p.m. ET, Thornton's unique approach of forcing contact rather than focusing on strikeouts has set him apart as a rising pitching sensation.