Mets call up Zach Thornton to start Sunday vs Red Sox
The New York Mets recalled left-handed pitcher Zach Thornton from Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, July 12, 2026, to start the final game of the first half against the Boston Red Sox. In a corresponding move, right-hander Tobias Myers was optioned back to Syracuse, handing Thornton his third MLB start of the season. The roster shuffle caps a busy stretch of pitching moves for a club pushing through the pre-All-Star break schedule.
Key Takeaways
- Left-hander Zach Thornton was recalled from Syracuse to start Sunday against Boston.
- Right-hander Tobias Myers was optioned to Triple-A in the corresponding move.
- Sunday's outing will be Thornton's third major league start in 2026.
- Interim manager Andy Green praised Thornton's aggressiveness and upside.
- Myers has a 6.26 ERA across 46 innings in the majors this season.
Why did the Mets call up Zach Thornton?
The Mets needed a starter for the final game before the MLB All-Star break, and Thornton was the choice from Triple-A Syracuse. Per SNY, this is the third time New York has brought the 24-year-old southpaw to the 26-man roster in 2026.
Both previous call-ups ended with one start each before Thornton was sent back down. With the break approaching, Sunday could mark another short big-league stint for a pitcher the organization clearly wants to evaluate in real games.
How has Zach Thornton performed in his prior starts?
Thornton's MLB debut against the Nationals on May 20 was rough: 4.1 innings, four earned runs, four hits (one homer), two walks, and three strikeouts. His home debut against the Philadelphia Phillies on June 26 was a different story—six innings, one run, five hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts.
CBS Sports noted that Thornton returned to Syracuse after that quality Phillies outing. Amazin' Avenue added that if the Mets trade starters at the deadline and others like Jonah Tong and Jack Wenninger struggle, Thornton could become a rotation fixture through the end of 2026.
What did Andy Green say about Thornton?
Ahead of Saturday's game, interim manager Andy Green spoke highly of the left-hander. He said the club has "high hopes for what he can become" and will not limit where Thornton could land in the rotation.
Green called Thornton "unafraid" and said he will "give you what he's got" on the mound. He pointed to the Phillies start—when Thornton surrendered three hard hits early, then shut Philadelphia down the rest of the way—as proof of who the Mets believe he is.
"We're excited to get him into the mix [Sunday]," Green said, noting the last optioning came from roster constraints rather than performance.
Why was Tobias Myers optioned?
Myers allowed a two-run homer—his ninth of the season—during two innings of work in Saturday's loss, continuing a difficult first year in New York. SNY reported he has pitched to a 6.26 ERA and 1.391 WHIP in 26 major league games (three starts) over 46.0 innings.
Amazin' Avenue described Myers as a "ping pong ball" shuttling between the majors and Triple-A. After a strong spring and decent early season, he was sent down in late May, and his ERA has jumped more than two runs since that first optioning.
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