The New York Mets are planning to call up pitching prospect Zach Thornton to start Friday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. This move follows the trade of left-handed pitcher David Peterson to the Chicago Cubs late Wednesday night for minor-league infielder Cole Mathis.
The Mets' pitching rotation has been described as a "turn-by-turn patchwork" by president of baseball operations David Stearns, making Thornton's call-up a strategic adjustment ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Thornton, considered the Mets' No. 12 overall prospect and fifth-best pitcher, made his Major League debut last month. In his sole MLB start against the Washington Nationals, he allowed four runs on four hits while recording three strikeouts and two walks in 4 ⅓ innings. In 12 appearances for Triple-A Syracuse this season, including 11 starts, Thornton has posted a 1-5 record with a 4.25 earned run average. He was a fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft.