Veteran left-hander Matt Thornton has decided to retire, reports ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter). The 40-year-old spent his final big league season in the Padres organization but was limited to 17 innings due to an Achilles strain and was released in mid-August.
Originally selected by the Mariners with the 22nd overall pick of the 1998 draft, Thornton didn’t make his big league debut until his age-27 season in 2004 and didn’t establish himself as a quality bullpen piece until his age-29 campaign. Traded from the Mariners to the White Sox in exchange for light-hitting outfielder Joe Borchard, though, Thornton blossomed on Chicago’s south side and eventually became one of the game’s premier left-handed setup men. From 2008-10, Thornton recorded a 2.70 ERA with 11.0 K/9 against 2.7 BB/9, showing a mastery over left-handed hitters and right-handed hitters alike thanks in large part to a fastball that averaged just shy of 96 mph.
Those three seasons may have represented Thornton’s peak, but the lefty was predominantly excellent for the better part of a decade from age 29 through age 38. In that time, Thornton recorded a 3.11 ERA and averaged just under a strikeout per inning. Overall, the lefty’s career will come to a close with a losing 36-46 record but a very solid 3.41 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, 23 saves, 206 holds (164 of which came with the White Sox — a franchise record), 8.7 K/9, 3.4 BB/9 and a 48.2 percent ground-ball rate in 662 2/3 innings as a Major Leaguer. Thornton earned more than $28MM in his Major League career, per Baseball-Reference (plus a $925K signing bonus). We at MLBTR wish Thornton continued success in his post-playing days and offer a hearty congratulations on an impressive career.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Oh Seattle
Yankees gave up too soon on him.
If there’s one thing that Kenny Williams did well, it’s strike it big with low risk-high reward players. Matt Thornton, Jose Quintana, Carlos Quentin, Bobby Jenks, and Sergio Santos are all examples of guys that he plucked from the scrap heap with fantastic results.
I always felt like Matt Thornton and Boone Logan wouldn’t have even gotten a chance if the Sox weren’t trying to find someone specifically to face Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau.
Thank you for the memories, Thornton. I had the opportunity to watch you pitch several times at Comisky.
One of my fave Sox!
I’ve been a White Sox fan for about 45 years, and Matt Thornton has been the best left-handed reliever during that time, in my opinion. Hope he enjoys retirement, and if he wants to get back in I hope he can land in the organization.
What a great career.! Great example to follow.
Way to represent our small town of Centreville! Good luck on the next stage of your life.