Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Cutter: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55 | Overall: 45
Though Thornton's stuff took a downturn during his junior season at North Carolina, the Astros believed in his previous track record enough to take him in the fifth round of the 2015 Draft. He pitched well in his first two years as a pro, then struggled at the upper levels of the system in 2017. He fared better and showed crisper stuff while repeating Triple-A this season and then pitched in the Arizona Fall League before joining the Blue Jays in mid-November in exchange for Aledmys Diaz.
Thornton added a couple ticks of velocity to his fastball in 2018, working at 93-95 mph and topping out at 97 with riding action. His collection of secondary pitches is headlined by a plus curveball in the low-80s that has an elite spin rate. His slider has morphed into a true cutter that he throws with sharp glove-side slicing action and a bit of sink at 88-92 mph. He needs to refine and trust his changeup more to find success against left-handers, however.
Thornton has a funky delivery, but it gives him deception and doesn't prevent him from filling the strike zone. With solid stuff and strike-throwing ability, he has the ingredients to become at least a No. 4 starter. But he often gets hit harder than he should, so his long-term role may be as a multi-inning reliever. Statcast - Pitching Season Pitches Batted Balls Barrels Barrel % Exit Velocity Launch Angle XBA XSLG WOBA XWOBA XWOBACON Hard Hit % K % BB % 2019 2759 462 34 7.4 87.6 16.2 .260 .432 .325 .327 .381 36.8 22.0 8.9 ALL 2759 462 34 7.4 87.6 16.2 .260 .432 .325 .327 .381 36.8 22.0 8.9 MLB 40553 6.3 87.5 11.2 .251 .412 .317 .318 .371 34.5 21.7 8.3 Rankings Runs Year R Rank 2019 87 21st in AL Strikeouts Year SO Rank 2019 149 21st in AL Hits Year H Rank 2019 156 23rd in AL Transactions Team Date Transaction 08/01/2019 Toronto Blue Jays activated RHP Trent Thornton from the 10-day injured list. 07/22/2019 Toronto Blue Jays placed RHP Trent Thornton on the 10-day injured list retroactive to July 21, 2019. Right elbow inflammation. 11/20/2018 Toronto Blue Jays selected the contract of RHP Trent Thornton from Buffalo Bisons. 11/17/2018 Houston Astros traded RHP Trent Thornton to Toronto Blue Jays for SS Aledmys Diaz. 11/17/2018 RHP Trent Thornton assigned to Buffalo Bisons. 07/22/2018 Trent Thornton roster status changed by Fresno Grizzlies. 07/15/2018 Fresno Grizzlies placed RHP Trent Thornton on the temporarily inactive list. 05/27/2018 Fresno Grizzlies activated RHP Trent Thornton from the 7-day disabled list. 05/21/2018 Fresno Grizzlies placed RHP Trent Thornton on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to May 20, 2018. 01/25/2018 Houston Astros invited non-roster RHP Trent Thornton to spring training. 07/13/2017 Fresno Grizzlies activated RHP Trent Thornton from the temporarily inactive list. 07/06/2017 Fresno Grizzlies placed RHP Trent Thornton on the temporarily inactive list. 05/18/2017 RHP Trent Thornton assigned to Fresno Grizzlies from Tri-City ValleyCats. 05/15/2017 RHP Trent Thornton assigned to Tri-City ValleyCats from Fresno Grizzlies. 04/29/2017 RHP Trent Thornton assigned to Fresno Grizzlies from Tri-City ValleyCats. 04/26/2017 RHP Trent Thornton assigned to Tri-City ValleyCats from Corpus Christi Hooks. 02/26/2017 RHP Trent Thornton assigned to Houston Astros. 07/23/2016 RHP Trent Thornton assigned to Corpus Christi Hooks from Lancaster JetHawks. 04/05/2016 RHP Trent Thornton assigned to Lancaster JetHawks from Tri-City ValleyCats. 06/19/2015 RHP Trent Thornton assigned to Tri-City ValleyCats. 06/16/2015 Houston Astros signed RHP Trent Thornton.
