View source for Zack Thornton

{{Short description|American baseball player and coach (born 1998)}}
{{distinguish|Zach Thornton}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name        = Zack Thornton
|image      = File:Zack Thornton Mets (1).jpg
|image_size = 250
|caption    = Thornton with the [[2016 New York Mets season|New York Mets in 2016]]
|team        =
|number      =
|position    = [[Pitcher]] / [[Coach (baseball)|Coach]]
|bats        = Right
|throws      = Right
|birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1988|5|19}}
|birth_place = [[Oak Park, California]]
}}
 
'''Zachary James Thornton''' (born May 19, 1988) is an American former [[professional baseball]] [[pitcher]]. He is currently the pitching coach for the UC Davis Aggies.

Pitching for [[Oak Park High School (California)|Oak Park High School]], Thornton was All-State in California. At [[Ventura College]], in 2008 he was 11–1 and was First Team all-[[SoCal]] and named to the  [[Western State Conference]] North Team. Transferring to the [[University of Oregon]], in his senior year in 2010 he was 9–0 and was named [[Pac-10]] honorable mention. The [[Oakland Athletics]] selected Thornton in the 23rd round of the [[2010 MLB draft]], and he signed. In 2011, Thornton was a [[Midwest League]] All Star. In 2013, he was named a MiLB.com Pittsburgh Pirates Organization All-Star.  In 2015, he was named the [[Venezuelan Winter League]]'s Setup Pitcher of The Year. He pitched for [[Israel at the World Baseball Classic#2017 tournament|Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic]].

==Early life==
Thornton was born in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in [[Oak Park, California]].<ref name="baseball-reference.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=thornt001zac|title=Zack Thornton Minor, Fall & Winter Leagues Statistics & History |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref name="oregonlive.com">{{cite web|url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2010/06/mlb_draft_2010_oregon_pitcher_2.html|title=MLB Draft 2010: Oregon pitcher Zack Thornton picked by Oakland|work= The Oregonian|date=June 9, 2010}}</ref> His parents are James and Robin Thornton (a New York native), and he has a brother named Sam.<ref name="goducks.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.goducks.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2063|title=Zack Thornton – 2009 Baseball Roster |publisher=GoDucks.com}}</ref><ref name=todd>Todd Dewey (June 2, 2014). [http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/baseball/51s/51s-pitcher-adjusts-park "51s’ pitcher adjusts to park,"] ''Las Vegas Review-Journal''.</ref>

==High school==
He attended and graduated in 2006 from [[Oak Park High School (California)|Oak Park High School]] in [[Oak Park, California]].<ref name="baseball-reference.com"/><ref name="goducks.com"/> Pitching for the baseball team, Thornton was All-State, all-[[California Interscholastic Federation]] (CIF), and all-[[Tri-Valley League (CIF)|Tri-Valley League]].<ref name="goducks.com"/>

==College==
Thornton enrolled at [[Ventura College]]. He pitched for the baseball team in 2007 and 2008.<ref name="goducks.com"/> In his sophomore year he was 11–1 with a 1.12 ERA in 89 innings, and was named to the First Team all-[[SoCal]] Team and the [[Western State Conference]] North Team.<ref name="goducks.com"/><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.amazinavenue.com/2014/4/18/5629806/mets-ike-davis-zack-thornton-trade-pirates|title=Ike Davis Trade Analysis: Meet Zack Thornton|first=Steve|last=Sypa|date=April 18, 2014|publisher=amazinavenue.com}}</ref><ref>[http://fp.academic.venturacollege.edu/athletics/baseball/Base_Archives/VC_Baseball_All-WSC_Teams.pdf "Ventura College All-Conference Players and All State (1980–2013)"]</ref> The [[San Francisco Giants]] selected Thornton in the 43rd round of the [[2008 MLB draft]], but he opted not to sign.<ref name=get>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/on-base-perception-mlb-fantasy-baseball-blog-newsday-1.3631854/get-to-know-mets-reliever-zack-thornton-1.7762141|title=Get to know Mets reliever Zack Thornton|work=Newsday|access-date=December 4, 2014}}</ref>

He transferred to the [[University of Oregon]], to continue his college career with the [[Oregon Ducks]]. In his junior year in 2009, Thornton suffered a right shoulder injury, which he had surgically corrected, releasing the [[Articular capsule|capsule]] to allow his shoulder to have unhindered internal rotation.<ref name="goducks.com"/><ref>Adam Rubin (April 30, 2014). [http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/85470/farm-report-thornton-finds-familiar-faces Farm report: Thornton finds familiar faces,"] ESPN.</ref> In his senior year in 2010 he was 9–0 (his 9 wins matching the Oregon single-season record, and his 1.000 winning percentage setting the Oregon single-season record) with a 3.40 ERA (10th in the Conference) in 90 innings in which he struck out 73 batters and walked 16, and was named [[Pac-10]] honorable mention.<ref name="oregonlive.com"/><ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web| url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/uoregon.sidearmsports.com/documents/2018/2/28/2018_Record_Book.pdf|access-date=2023-08-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307053552/https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/uoregon.sidearmsports.com/documents/2018/2/28/2018_Record_Book.pdf|archive-date=2018-03-07|title=Oregon Baseball - Record Book 2018}}</ref> The [[Oakland Athletics]] selected Thornton in the 23rd round of the [[2010 MLB draft]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2010/06/mlb_draft_2010_oregon_pitcher_2.html|title=MLB Draft 2010: Oregon pitcher Zack Thornton picked by Oakland|work=The Oregonian|date=June 9, 2010}}</ref> and he signed.

==Minor leagues==
===Oakland Athletics===
Thornton pitched in 2010 for the [[AZL Athletics]] of the Rookie [[Arizona League]] and the [[Vancouver Canadians]] of the [[Class A-Short Season|Low–A]] [[Northwest League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/aug/21/orloff-showing-his-versatility/ |title=Orloff showing his versatility |work=Ventura County Star  |access-date=December 14, 2013}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=thornt001zac "Zack Thornton Minor, Fall & Winter Leagues Statistics & History,"] Baseball-Reference.com.</ref>
 
In 2011, Thornton had a 5–4 [[Win–loss record (pitching)|win–loss record]], a 2.39 [[earned run average]], and 82 [[strikeouts]] in 83 innings for the [[Burlington Bees]] of the [[Class A (baseball)|Single–A]] [[Midwest League]], and made one appearance for the [[Midland RockHounds]] of the Double–A [[Texas League]].<ref name=autogenerated1 /> At mid-season, he appeared in the Midwest League All-Star Game. He pitched for the [[Stockton Ports]] of the [[Class A-Advanced|High–A]] [[California League]] in 2012, going 4–0 with 16 saves (2nd in the league, and 4th among Oakland minor leaguers) and a 4.53 ERA and 70 strikeouts in {{fraction|53|2|3}} innings.<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=pitch&id=665f8df1 "2012 California League Pitching Leaders,"] Baseball-Reference.com.</ref><ref name=autogenerated4>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170222194922/http://www.milb.com/documents/5/2/2/74765522/section2_2014indians_pg5_48_WEB_damg940p.pdf "2014 Indianapolis Indians Media Guide"]</ref> 

===Pittsburgh Pirates===
On November 30, 2012, the Athletics traded Thornton to the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] in exchange for pitcher [[Chris Resop]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121130&content_id=40480648&vkey=pr_pit&c_id=pit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618071704/http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121130&content_id=40480648&vkey=pr_pit&c_id=pit |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 18, 2013 |title=Pirates acquire RHP Zach Thornton from Oakland in exchange for RHP Chris Resop |work=mlb.com |date=November 30, 2012 |access-date=December 14, 2013}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated2>Matthew Cerrone (April 19, 2014). [https://www.sny.tv/mets/news/who-is-zack-thornton/149421330 "Who is Zack Thornton?"], sny.tv/mets/news.</ref>

In the 2013 season, Thornton pitched for the [[Bradenton Marauders]] of the High–A [[Florida State League]], the [[Altoona Curve]] of the Double–A [[Eastern League (1938–2020)|Eastern League]], and the [[Indianapolis Indians]] of the Triple–A [[International League]].<ref name=autogenerated1 />  He was a combined 7–3 with 5 saves and a 2.63 ERA, and recorded 90 strikeouts to 12 walks in {{fraction|75|1|3}} innings, as he kept opponents to a .204 batting average.<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref name=autogenerated4 /> His 31 strikeouts and 4 walks in Triple–A for a 7.75 K/BB ratio was fourth-best among International League pitchers with at least 25 innings pitched.<ref name=get/> Thornton was named a MiLB.com Pittsburgh Pirates Organization All-Star.<ref name="autogenerated3">[https://www.mlb.com/player/zack-thornton-543856 "Zack Thornton Stats, Fantasy & News,"] mlb.com.</ref> He pitched for the [[Scottsdale Scorpions]] in 2013 in the [[Arizona Fall League]], where he had a 3.07 ERA.<ref name=autogenerated2 /><ref name=autogenerated4 /> Thornton was considered a potential selection in the 2013 [[Rule 5 draft]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2013/12/08/luhnow-better-prepared-for-second-rule-5-draft-with-astros/ |title=Astros prepare for first pick in complex Rule 5 draft|author= Evan Drellich|work=Houston Chronicle |date=December 8, 2013 |access-date=December 14, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Mayo |first=Jonathan |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/pipeline-inbox-jonathan-mayo-breaks-down-some-of-the-best-high-school-arms-available-in-next-junes-draft?ymd=20131206&content_id=64435130&vkey=news_mlb |title=Pipeline Inbox: 2014 Draft full of good HS arms |work=mlb.com |date=December 6, 2013 |access-date=December 14, 2013}}</ref> but was not selected. Thornton began the 2014 season with Indianapolis, going 2–0 with a 1.23 ERA.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> 

===New York Mets===
On April 18, 2014, the Pirates traded Thornton and a [[player to be named later]] to the [[New York Mets]] in exchange for first baseman [[Ike Davis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/18/pirates-acquire-ike-davis-in-a-trade-with-the-mets/ |title=Pirates acquire Ike Davis in a trade with the Mets &#124; HardballTalk |publisher=NBC Sports|author=Bill Baer |date=April 18, 2014 |access-date=April 19, 2014}}</ref> Thornton pitched as a reliever for the [[Las Vegas 51s]] of the Triple–A [[Pacific Coast League]], going 1–5 with a 4.22 ERA and 65 strikeouts in {{fraction|59|2|3}} innings.<ref name=todd/><ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/51sbaseball/former-current-51s-play-world-baseball-classic|title=Former, current 51s to play in World Baseball Classic|first=Betsy |last=Helfand|date=February 8, 2017|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}</ref> He then pitched in three games for [[Navegantes del Magallanes]] in the 2015 [[Venezuelan Winter League]].<ref name=autogenerated1 />

[[File:Zack Thornton Mets (2).jpg|thumb|Thornton with the [[2016 New York Mets season|New York Mets in 2016]]]]
In 2015, Thornton pitched again for Las Vegas, going 4–4 with a 3.94 ERA in 63 games.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> That winter Thornton again pitched for Navegantes del Magallanes, and was named the Venezuelan Winter League's Setup Pitcher of The Year.<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref>[https://www.sny.tv/mets/news/mets-rhp-zack-thornton-named-the-vwls-setup-pitcher-of-the-year/161688266 "Mets RHP Zack Thornton named the VWL's Setup Pitcher of The Year"], sny.tv/mets, January 12, 2016.</ref> In 2016, he pitched again for Las Vegas, going 0–3 with a 7.03 ERA.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> Thornton elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2016|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2016/|access-date=July 20, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=8 November 2016 |language=en}}</ref>

===Southern Maryland Blue Crabs===
On May 30, 2017, Thornton signed with the [[Southern Maryland Blue Crabs]] of the independent [[Atlantic League of Professional Baseball]].<ref>[https://somdbluecrabs.wordpress.com/2017/05/30/blue-crabs-sign-wbc-standout-zack-thornton/ BLUE CRABS SIGN WBC STANDOUT ZACK THORNTON | Southern Maryland Blue Crabs]</ref> In 47 relief appearances, he was 2-4 with 2 [[save (baseball)|saves]] and a 3.63 ERA.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=thornt001zac Zack Thornton Minor, Fall, Winter & Independent Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com]</ref> He became a free agent after the season.

==Team Israel: World Baseball Classic==
On February 1, 2017, Thornton wrote on Twitter: "I'm excited to announce that I will be playing for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic!"<ref>[https://twitter.com/thortythort30?lang=en "Zack Thornton (@Thortythort30),"] Twitter.</ref> He pitched for [[Israel at the World Baseball Classic#2017 tournament|Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic]] in March 2017.<ref name="auto1"/>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{baseballstats|brm=thornt001zac|espn=32288|br=|mlb=543856|fangraphs=sa549662}}
*[https://twitter.com/thortythort30 Twitter]

{{Israel roster 2017 World Baseball Classic}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thornton, Zack}}
[[Category:1988 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Altoona Curve players]]
[[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Canada]]
[[Category:Arizona League Athletics players]]
[[Category:Baseball coaches from California]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Bradenton Marauders players]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:Burlington Bees players]]
[[Category:Indianapolis Indians players]]
[[Category:Jewish American baseball players]]
[[Category:Las Vegas 51s players]]
[[Category:Midland RockHounds players]]
[[Category:Navegantes del Magallanes players]]
[[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela]]
[[Category:Oregon Ducks baseball players]]
[[Category:People from Oak Park, California]]
[[Category:Scottsdale Scorpions players]]
[[Category:Southern Maryland Blue Crabs players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Ventura County, California]]
[[Category:Stockton Ports players]]
[[Category:Vancouver Canadians players]]
[[Category:Ventura Pirates baseball players]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]