Despite results, Mets' Zach Thornton reflects on 'super special' MLB debut: 'I feel as though I belong here'
· Yahoo Sports
While it wasn't a storybook debut, Mets LHP Zach Thornton was able to settle in after a tough first inning and get through 4.1 innings on Wednesday night against the Washington Nationals.
The 24-year-old let up a three-run home run to CJ Abrams in the first and another run in the second inning, but found a way to retire nine out of the final 10 batters he faced, including eight straight. After the 8-4 loss, Thornton was asked how he was able to lock back in after that first inning for the remainder of the outing and expressed confidence in his ability.
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"I just know that I need to get in zone," Thornton said. "I feel as though I belong here. My stuff's going to play. So if I can just get in zone I'll be alright."
Overall, Thornton allowed four runs on four hits over 4.1 innings with three strikeouts and two walks. He said nerves weren't really a factor, because he's "nervous before every game," while focusing on the basics and adapting to the "little bit better" MLB hitters helped him throughout the night.
"Just getting back to what I do best, getting to two strikes before I get to one ball," Thornton said.
He added: "Learning how to get certain pitches by people."
Despite some of the results, manager Carlos Mendoza was happy with Thornton's resilience.
"Obviously Abrams gets him there on that cutter for the three-run homer out of the gate, but I thought he competed," Mendoza said. "They have some good takes on some pitches that were strike-to-ball. But they ran his pitch count up. The one thing I liked, even after he got punched there in the first inning, he didn't back down. He kept going after it. Pitch count went up, but he competed though."
Mendoza also complimented Thornton's tempo, saying there were "some positives there."
More importantly than the box score, Thornton called his debut "everything you kind of dream about" and was thankful that his father, Paul, could be in attendance. Paul Thornton underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his spine seven weeks ago and the procedure resulted in temporary lower-body paralysis, preventing him from walking since.
"Super special," Thornton said on his dad being in attendance. "Just seeing him sitting there in his little wheelchair."
While Thornton's immediate future and next start in the big leagues is yet to be determined, the left-hander will enjoy the moment with his family forever.
"It means everything to me. He's got his own battle that he has to put aside now. We're gonna get with him for the next 30 days and hopefully he can bounce back from his rehab."