Trent Thornton

Active

Chicago Cubs · Pitcher

Age 326' 0" · 190 lbsThrows Right

FBaseball Overview

At 32 years old, Thornton operates as a depth starter and occasional relief option for the Cubs, offering streaming value rather than a cornerstone fantasy asset. His 2026 season has started promisingly with a 2.63 ERA and 1.04 WHIP across limited innings, suggesting improved control and efficiency compared to his 4.68 ERA in 2025. The real concern is consistency—his career trajectory shows volatility with ERA fluctuations, and his strikeout rate of 4.13 K/9 (based on 2026 pace) limits ceiling upside in that category. For fantasy managers, Thornton works best as a matchup-dependent streamer who can provide solid ERA and WHIP help rather than a reliable source of wins or strikeouts.

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2019	Toronto Blue Jays	32	29	6	9	0	4.84	1.41	149	154.1	61
2020	Toronto Blue Jays	3	3	0	0	0	11.12	3.18	6	5.2	3
2021	Toronto Blue Jays	37	3	1	3	0	4.78	1.43	52	49.0	16
2022	Toronto Blue Jays	32	0	0	2	0	4.11	1.24	37	46.0	17
2023	2 teams▼	27	1	1	2	0	2.01	1.15	26	31.1	6
2024	Seattle Mariners	71	0	4	3	1	3.61	1.13	77	72.1	19
2025	Seattle Mariners	33	0	2	0	0	4.68	1.30	32	42.1	14
2026	Chicago Cubs	21	0	3	2	1	2.73	1.03	12	26.1	10
Career	Totals	256	36	17	21	2	4.28	1.32	391	427.1	146

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Minor League Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2015	Tri-City ValleyCats	15	12	4	0	0	3.27	1.31	48	55.0	10
2016	2 teams▼	24	21	10	5	0	3.52	1.14	124	135.2	21
2017	2 teams▼	25	23	9	6	0	5.21	1.41	101	131.1	23
2018	Fresno Grizzlies	24	22	9	8	0	4.42	1.20	122	124.1	31
2021	Buffalo Bisons	10	0	1	0	3	0.00	0.97	8	10.1	2
2022	Buffalo Bisons	21	0	2	2	3	2.89	1.36	30	28.0	12
2023	2 teams▼	23	0	5	1	0	4.03	1.62	28	29.0	18
2025	Tacoma Rainiers	2	0	1	0	0	3.38	0.75	3	2.2	0
2026	Iowa Cubs	4	1	0	0	0	3.18	1.41	5	5.2	3
Career	Totals	148	79	41	22	6	4.05	1.27	469	521.3	120

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Game Log2026 season

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Pitching Analytics2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo94.8 mph

Avg Spin2631 rpm

Whiff %21.7%

K %11.9%

BB %9.9%

Hard Hit %48.7%

Barrel %9.0%

xERA5.31

xBA Against0.266

xSLG Against0.47

BA Against0.191

SLG Against0.371

What These Stats Mean

FB Velo — Average fastball velocity. Harder throwers generate more swings and misses, setting up every other pitch in their arsenal. Velocity is the foundation of strikeout upside.

Avg Spin — Average spin rate across all pitches. Higher spin creates more movement and makes pitches harder to square up — elite spinners run better strikeout and batting average against numbers.

Whiff % — Swings-and-misses per swing. The most direct measure of a pitcher's ability to miss bats and the best leading indicator of strikeout rate.

K % — Strikeout rate per batter faced. The core fantasy pitching stat — high K% means reliable strikeout totals that hold up even in shorter starts.

BB % — Walk rate per batter faced. The primary control metric. High BB% tanks ERA and WHIP and keeps baserunners on constantly. Elite starters typically run below 7%.

Hard Hit % — Percentage of batted balls hit 95 mph or harder against. Low hard-hit% means weak contact, protecting both ERA and the defense behind the pitcher.

Barrel % — Percentage of batted balls barreled against. The most direct home run predictor — low barrel% pitchers rarely give up long balls.

xERA — Expected ERA based on contact quality allowed, removing the effect of sequencing, luck, and defense. Better predictor of future ERA than ERA itself.

xBA Against — Expected batting average opponents should hit based on contact quality. A gap between xBA and actual BA indicates unsustainable luck in either direction.

xSLG Against — Expected slugging allowed based on contact quality. High xSLG against predicts future extra-base damage; low xSLG means the pitcher is genuinely suppressing power.

BA Against — Actual batting average opponents are hitting — a key WHIP component. Check xBA to see if the number is sustainable.

SLG Against — Actual slugging allowed. Captures hits, doubles, triples, and home runs — lower means the pitcher is limiting the power damage he gives up.

GB% — Ground ball rate. High GB% pitchers generate double plays, limit home runs, and keep the ball in the park — great for protecting ERA and WHIP ratios.

FB% — Fly ball rate. High FB% pitchers give up more air contact — dangerous when combined with high exit velocity, less so when contact is soft.

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Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2019

Toronto Blue Jays

4.84

1.41

149

154.1

2020

Toronto Blue Jays

11.12

3.18

5.2

2021

Toronto Blue Jays

4.78

1.43

49.0

2022

Toronto Blue Jays

4.11

1.24

46.0

2023

2 teams▼

2.01

1.15

31.1

2024

Seattle Mariners

3.61

1.13

72.1

2025

Seattle Mariners

4.68

1.30

42.1

2026

Chicago Cubs

2.73

1.03

26.1

Career

Totals

256

4.28

1.32

391

427.1

146

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2015

Tri-City ValleyCats

3.27

1.31

55.0

2016

2 teams▼

3.52

1.14

124

135.2

2017

2 teams▼

5.21

1.41

101

131.1

2018

Fresno Grizzlies

4.42

1.20

122

124.1

2021

Buffalo Bisons

0.00

0.97

10.1

2022

Buffalo Bisons

2.89

1.36

28.0

2023

2 teams▼

4.03

1.62

29.0

2025

Tacoma Rainiers

3.38

0.75

2.2

2026

Iowa Cubs

3.18

1.41

5.2

Career

Totals

148

4.05

1.27

469

521.3

120