Matt Thornton
| IP | 662 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.412 |
| WHIP | 1.276 |
| BB/9 | 3.412 |
| SO/9 | 8.728 |
- Full name Matthew J. Thornton
- Born 09/15/1976 in Three Rivers, MI
- Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 235 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Grand Valley State
- Debut 06/27/2004
- Drafted in the 1st round (22nd overall) by the Seattle Mariners in 1998 (signed for $925,000).
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Thornton completed an arduous climb when he shut out the Padres for four innings in his big league debut. The biggest surprise in 1998's first round--Thornton had more success as a basketball player in college--he didn't win a game in college or as a pro until 2000. He had a breakout year in 2001, when he was the California League pitcher of the year and strikeout leader, only to succumb to Tommy John surgery in 2002. Thornton has regained the 94-96 mph fastball he had before his elbow injury, but his slider hasn't been as sharp. He never has trusted his changeup or had much command, so he'll probably settle in as a reliever in the majors. To make the Mariners this spring, he'll need to throw more strikes and make progress with his slider. He did well on both counts in Venezuela over the winter. -
A surprise 1998 first-round pick after making more of a name for himself as a basketball player, Thornton didn't win a game in college or in his first two years as a pro. He broke out in 2001 with a strikeout crown and pitcher-of-the-year honors in the California League, only to blow out his elbow and require Tommy John surgery the following season. Thornton returned to the mound within 11 months, but lasted just six weeks last season before going down with a herniated disc in his neck. His pitches weren't as crisp as they had been in the past, though that's typical for someone coming back so quickly from Tommy John surgery. His fastball dipped from the low 90s to the high 80s. His slider, the key to his emergence in 2001, didn't have the same late, quick bite. Thornton's command and changeup remain works in progress. He tends to backdoor his slider rather than trust his changeup against righthanders. Given that he's a two-pitch pitcher with durability concerns, he'd probably be best off in relief. He worked out of the bullpen in the Arizona Fall League, where he got tattooed but did get back to 90-93 mph with his fastball. If Thornton's stuff comes the rest of the way back in 2004, the Mariners could give him a look as a long reliever. -
Thornton was a surprise first-round pick in 1998 out of NCAA Division II Grand Valley State, where he was better known as a basketball player. He never won a game in college or in his first two years as a pro, when he was beset by a sore elbow and tricep tendinitis. He finally justified his selection in 2001, when he led the California League in strikeouts and was both the organization's and the circuit's pitcher of the year. Thornton always had a live arm but until last year he lacked the confidence to succeed. His fastball sits at 90-92 mph and has plenty of life, and he can get it by righthanders when he throws it down and in. His slider got a lot better in 2001, making him death on lefties, who batted .208 with no homers in 77 at-bats. The next steps for Thornton are to improve his changeup and his command. There were questions about his durability, but he put those to rest by holding up for 27 starts last year. If he can't master a third pitch, Thornton's fastball and slider alone would make him an intriguing reliever. He'll pitch out of the Double-A rotation in 2002. -
Minor League Top Prospects
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While fellow 1998 first-round picks Sean Burroughs, J.D. Drew, Mark Mulder and Carlos Pena are on the brink of major league stardom, Thornton has progressed slowly. He finally broke out in 2001, earning Cal League pitcher-of-the-year honors while leading the circuit in strikeouts. He was quite old for the league at 24, which is obviously a drawback, but the fact that he had thrown just 134 professional innings entering this season must be taken into account. Thornton always has had size and a quality fastball going for him, and this season he improved his command and the consistency of his secondary pitches, a slider and changeup. He was a reliever in college and could return to that role, though the pressing issue right now is getting him innings.
