The New York Mets’ starting rotation may have collapsed last season, but the future looks bright for the position. Three of the club’s top five prospects pitched in the majors last season: Jonah Tong, Nolan McLean, and Brandon Sproat. McLean blew everybody away with his dominance, posting a 2.06 ERA in eight starts.

Tong and Sproat showed some promise as well, but may need just a bit more time developing before becoming a mainstay at the big-league level. These three pitching prospects take the headlines in terms of pitching prospects in the organization, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any talented arms beyond them.

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In his recent Bleacher Report article predicting the most likely breakout prospect for each organization, Joel Reuter selected left-handed pitcher Zach Thornton as the Mets’ most likely candidate for a big 2026.

The 23-year-old joined the Mets in 2023 as a fifth-round selection out of Grand Canyon University. Thornton had a stellar 2025 of his own in New York’s minor leagues, recording a 1.98 ERA across 14 starts between Double-A and High-A.

His stuff doesn’t make you jump off the couch, but Thornton has a diverse repertoire that keeps batters on their heels. His fastball typically sits in the lower 90s, although he can reach up to 95 mph with his 6-foot-3 frame. His usage of a four-seamer and two-seamer adds further diversity to his arsenal to make up for a lack of velocity.

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Thornton’s slider is his best pitch, showcasing great break and possessing great control over it. He also adds an upper-80s cutter, low-80s changeup, and a mid-to-high 70s curveball. Thornton’s control with his wide range of pitches is what has made him so effective in the minor leagues and is likely to lead to an MLB debut sooner than later.

The Mets’ major league starting rotation is still looking as thin as it did at the end of 2025. New York will likely have to rely on their young arms again in 2026 unless it becomes more aggressive as the offseason continues. If not, perhaps Thornton’s performance in the minors could force the hand of the Mets to try his stuff out in the bigs.