(Waldorf, MD., May 30, 2017) – The Blue Crabs announced the signing of and right-handed relief pitcher Zack Thornton to Blue Crabs roster on Tuesday, further bolstering their 10th Anniversary Team.
Thornton is entering his eighth season of professional baseball, joining the Atlantic League after seven seasons in affiliated baseball. Thornton was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 23rd round of the 2010 MLB Draft out of the University of Oregon. He spent three seasons in the A’s organization, before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the offseason of 2012. He pitched a little more than one season in the Pirates organization, before being traded in April of 2014 to the New York Mets in a deal for Ike Davis. In his minor-league career, Thornton has compiled a 25-21 record, with a 3.72 ERA and 430 strikeouts in 413.1 innings.
In the February of 2017, Thornton was offered a spot on the roster for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic. He appeared in four games for Israel in the WBC, collecting two holds in the first round of games, with Israel winning Group A and advancing. Thornton picked up the win in the first game of round two for Israel, throwing 1.1 scoreless innings in relief against Team Cuba.
“We’re excited to bring in Thornton to further bolster our bullpen,” said Manager John Harris. “He brings a lot of experience to the pen and will add another arm that we can count on to shut down the opposition late in games.”