Entering the final week before Opening Day for the MLB Draft League, the alumni network grows with its 16th Major Leaguer. On Wednesday, May 20, LHP Zach Thornton (Mahoning Valley 2022 & West Virginia 2023) got the call to the Show and made his debut with the New York Mets on the road against Washington.
The two-time Draft Leaguer ranks as the Metsโ No. 13 prospect by MLB Pipeline and becomes the third to debut with the team (Jonathan Pintaro, Jonah Tong) and the sixth overall Draft Leaguer to reach the Majors this season. This season, the former fifth round pick has made seven starts across Double and Triple-A, striking out 40 over 37 innings with a 3.16 ERA.
This weekโs Alumni Report goes deeper on Thorntonโs season, another free agent signing and the mid-May standouts amongst the Minor Leagues.
Previous Alumni Reports: 2025 Recap | Offseason Update | Prospect Update | Opening Weeks | April 16 | April 23 | April 30 | May 7 | May 14
Position Players
2023 Mahoning Valley Scrappers
Week: 4 G, .400/.500/1.133 (1.633 OPS), 3 HR, 2 2B, 5 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB, 2 SB, HBP
Season: 20 G, .300/.447/.567 (1.014 OPS), 3 HR, 7 2B, 14 R, 9 RBI, 5 SB
2022 Williamsport Crosscutters
Week: 6 G, .280/.357/.680 (1.037 OPS), 3 HR, 2B, 7 R, 6 RBI, 3 BB
Season: 37 G, .219/.301/.394 (.695 OPS), 6 HR, 3B, 4 2B, 23 R, 22 RBI, 3 SB
Andrew Cossetti (MIN, Double-A)
2021/22 Trenton Thunder
Week: 5 G, .294/.480/.588 (1.068 OPS), HR, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R, 4 BB
2024 Trenton Thunder | Tigers No. 26 Prospect (MLB Pipeline)
Week: 6 G, .227/.320/.591 (.911 OPS), 2 HR, 3B, 3 RBI, 3 R, 3 BB, SB
2024 Trenton Thunder
Week: 4 G, .333/.412/.733 (1.145 OPS), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB
Brock Tibbitts (TOR, Rookie Rehab Assignment)
2024 Frederick Keys
Week: 3 G, .444/.583/.444 (1.027 OPS), 4 R, 3 RBI, 3 BB, SB
Season: 5 G, .385/.579/.462 (1.041 OPS), 2B, 7 R, 4 RBI, SB
2023 Frederick Keys
Week: 6 G, .455/.552/.455 (1.007 OPS), 7 R, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 2 SB, HBP, SF
Season: 32 G, .306/.395/.477 (.872 OPS), 4 HR, 3B, 5 2B, 28 R, 25 RBI, 4 SB
Garrett Martin (NYY, Double-A)
2023 Frederick Keys
Week: 6 G, .280/.333/.600 (.933 OPS), 2 HR, 2 2B, 8 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, 2 SB
Season: 37 G, .265/.324/.555 (.879 OPS), 13 HR, 6 2B, 31 RBI, 29 R, 8 SB
Duncan Pastore (NYY, Double-A)
2022 West Virginia Black Bears
Week: 4 G, .385/.500/.462 (.962 OPS), 2B, 2 R, RBI, 3 BB, SB
Season: 12 G, .294/.385/.382 (.767 OPS), 3 2B, 5 R, RBI, SB
2024 West Virginia Black Bears | California League Player of the Week
Week (A): 5 G, .333/.375/.619 (.994 OPS), 7 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, SF
Season (A): 22 G, .333/.375/.679 (1.054 OPS), 7 HR, 3B, 6 2B, 25 RBI, 17 R, 8 SB
Signed as an MiLB free agent by the Rockies in January, OโDowd took home California League Player of the Week (May 10-17) honors after recording six extra base hits. He opened the week with two doubles, two RBI and a home run across four at-bats and closed the week with a grand slam as the Fresno Grizzlies won four of their five games against Visalia.
Charlie Pagliarini (SEA, Double-A)
2023 Trenton Thunder
Week: 6 G, .364/.500/.636 (1.136 OPS), HR, 3 2B, 5 RBI, 5 R, 5 BB, HBP
Season: 38 G, .284/.412/.478 (.890 OPS), 6 HR, 3B, 6 2B, 20 RBI, 20 R, 3 SB
Pitchers
2022 Frederick Keys | Braves No. 22 Prospect (MLB Pipeline)
Week: 3 G, 3.2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 4 K, 0.27 WHIP, .083 BAA
Cedric De Grandpre (ATL, High-A)
2022 West Virginia Black Bears
Week: GS, W, 7 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 10 K, 0.29 WHIP, .087 BAA
Season: 8 GS, 3-2, 33.1 IP, 5.13 ERA, 47 K, 1.38 WHIP, .236 BAA
2021 Frederick Keys
Week: 3 G, 3.1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 K, 0.60 WHIP, .182 BAA
Season: 13 G, 1-0, SV, 18.2 IP, 0.96 ERA, 28 K, 1.23 WHIP, .179 BAA
2022 Mahoning Valley Scrappers
Week: GS, W, 5 IP, 0 R, 2 H, BB, HB, 8 K, 0.60 WHIP, .125 BAA
Season: 8 GS, 2-2, 33.1 IP, 3.78 ERA, 35 K, 1.05 WHIP, .186 BAA
2022 Mahoning Valley / 2023 West Virginia | Mets No. 13 Prospect (MLB Pipeline)
Week (AAA): GS, W, 6 IP, 0 R, 3 H, BB, 9 K, 0.67 WHIP, .150 BAA
Season (Minors): 7 GS, 37 IP, 3.16 ERA, 40 K, 1.19 WHIP, .232 BAA
2023 Trenton Thunder / West Virginia Black Bears
Week: GS, 4 IP, R, H, 2 BB, HB, 2 K, 0.75 WHIP, .077 BAA
2023 State College Spikes
Week: GS, W, 5.1 IP, 0 R, 3 H, BB, 8 K, 0.75 WHIP, .158 BAA
Season: 8/6 G/S, 2-2, 30 IP, 1.80 ERA, 43 K, 1.27 WHIP, .214 BAA
2024 Mahoning Valley Scrappers
Week: 2 G, 4 IP, 0 R, 2 H, BB, 5 K, 0.75 WHIP, .143 BAA
Season: 16 G, 2-2, 2 SV, 21.1 IP, 5.91 ERA, 29 K, 1.64 WHIP, .220 BAA
2024 Trenton Thunder
Week: 2 GS, 2-0, 11.2 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 4 BB, 13 K, HB, 0.69 WHIP, .105 BAA
Season: 8 GS, 2-1, 38.1 IP, 1.17 ERA, 48 K, 1.10 WHIP, .150 BAA
Signings and Promotions
On Wednesday, May 20, the Toronto Blue Jays signed RHP Blake Purnell to a Minor League deal, and he was promptly assigned to Single-A Dunedin. A member of the 2024 State College Spikes in the first half, the Florida graduate made seven appearances out of the bullpen and went a perfect five-for-five in save opportunities. He also struck out six batters with one earned run, a WHIP of 0.75 and batting average against of .115.
May 18: RHP D.J. Carpenter (STL, FRE โ22) - Peoria Chiefs (A+) to Springfield Cardinals (AA)
May 19: INF Keshawn Ogans (ATL, SC โ22) - Rome Emperors (A+) to Gwinnett Stripers (AAA)
May 20: Thornton (NYM, MV โ22 + WV โ23) - Syracuse Mets (AAA) to New York Mets (MLB), OโDowd (COL, WV โ24) Fresno Grizzlies (A) to Spokane Indians (A+), 1B/C John Cristino (NYY, TRN โ21/22) - FCL Yankees (Rk) to Tampa Tarpons (A), Tevin Tucker (COL, WV โ23) - Spokane Indians (A+) to Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA)
Draft History
The MLB Draft League has found success in the MLB Draft through its first five seasons with 233 players drafted and another 200+ signing as free agents for a total of more than 400 players placed in affiliated baseball. A complete list of MLB Draft League graduates who have moved on to the next level can be found here.
For more information about the MLB Draft League, visit mlbdraftleague.com or follow @mlbdraftleague and @draftleaguedata on X, and @mlbdraftleague on Instagram.
