Barton Baseball alum Zach Thornton made his third MLB start Tuesday night, pitching seven innings and allowing zero runs with two strikeouts and allowing only three hits.
Thornton, a native of Lawrence, Kansas, attended Barton from 2020 to 2022, and in his sophomore year, dominated with a 2.63 ERA and a 9-0 record over 15 starts. The lefty was named honorable mention All-KJCCC and helped lead Barton to a 41-18 record.
Following his Barton career, Thornton attended Grand Canyon University and became a fifth round pick of the Mets in 2023. It took him just three years to make his way through the Minor Leagues, making his MLB debut earlier this year on May 20th.
In three starts, Thornton has thrown 17.1 innings and posted a 2.60 ERA. On Tuesday night, Thornton was finally able to log his first win in the MLB ranks with a 4-0 win. The outing extends his scoreless streak, which now sits at 18 innings.
Speaking during his postgame interview with SNY, Thornton said the confidence Green reference began during his freshman season at Barton. "I would say that my first year in college, I had no Division I offers. I was going to a junior college in Great Bend, Kansas — Barton Community College — and I think those coaches just did a really good job — Brent Biggs and Brett McBride — of installing confidence into me. They gave me the utmost confidence in myself, and I just kind of ran with that."
If the rotation holds, Thornton is expected to make his next start Monday, July 27, as the Mets open a series against the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. CT at Citi Field in Queens, New York.