Matt Thornton
Pitcher · Career Stats, Bio & Records (2004-2016)
Matt Thornton was a pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 2004 to 2016 for 6 teams, including the Seattle Mariners, a span of 13 seasons. Across 748 career appearances, he went 36-46 with a 3.41 ERA, 642 strikeouts, and 23 saves. Matt Thornton was an All-Star. His career Pitcher PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of pitching impact — is 12975.7.
- W (Wins):
- Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
- ERA (Earned Run Average):
- Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.
- SO (Strikeouts):
- For a batter, times retired on a third strike; for a pitcher, batters retired on a third strike.
- WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched):
- Baserunners allowed per inning: (BB + H) ÷ IP. Under 1.00 is elite.
Data updated
- Position
- Pitcher
- Bats / Throws
- L / L
- Height / Weight
- 6'6" / 235 lb
- MLB Debut
- 2004-06-27
- Last Game
- 2016-08-02
- Awards
- All-Star
Full name: Matthew J. Thornton
Season-by-Season Pitching
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Lg ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | SEA | AL | 1 | 2 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32.2 | 30 | 15 | 25 | 30 | 4.13 | 4.46 (+7%) | 131.8 |
| 2005 | SEA | AL | 0 | 4 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57.0 | 54 | 33 | 42 | 57 | 5.21 | 4.29 (-21%) | -2713.9 |
| 2006 | CHA | AL | 5 | 3 | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 54.0 | 46 | 20 | 21 | 49 | 3.33 | 4.53 (+26%) | 1049.7 |
| 2007 | CHA | AL | 4 | 4 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 56.1 | 59 | 30 | 26 | 55 | 4.79 | 4.47 (-7%) | 1099.8 |
| 2008 | CHA | AL | 5 | 3 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 67.1 | 48 | 20 | 19 | 77 | 2.67 | 4.32 (+38%) | 2693.0 |
| 2009 | CHA | AL | 6 | 3 | 70 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 72.1 | 58 | 22 | 20 | 87 | 2.74 | 4.32 (+37%) | 3414.7 |
| 2010 | CHA | AL | 5 | 4 | 61 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 60.2 | 41 | 18 | 20 | 81 | 2.67 | 4.08 (+35%) | 2979.6 |
| 2011 | CHA | AL | 2 | 5 | 62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 59.2 | 60 | 22 | 21 | 63 | 3.32 | 3.94 (+16%) | 1992.1 |
| 2012 | CHA | AL | 4 | 10 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 65.0 | 63 | 25 | 17 | 53 | 3.46 | 4.01 (+14%) | 1362.8 |
| 2013 | CHA | AL | 0 | 3 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28.0 | 25 | 12 | 10 | 21 | 3.86 | 3.87 (avg) | -577.7 |
| 2013 | BOS | AL | 0 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15.1 | 22 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 3.52 | 3.87 (+9%) | 389.6 |
| 2014 | NYA | AL | 0 | 3 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24.2 | 23 | 7 | 6 | 20 | 2.55 | 3.74 (+32%) | 628.4 |
| 2014 | WAS | NL | 1 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11.1 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0.00 | 3.74 (+100%) | 348.2 |
| 2015 | WAS | NL | 2 | 1 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41.1 | 33 | 10 | 11 | 23 | 2.18 | 3.96 (+45%) | 459.4 |
| 2016 | SDN | NL | 1 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17.0 | 22 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 5.82 | 4.19 (-39%) | -281.6 |
| Career · 15 seasons | 36 | 46 | 748 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 662.2 | 594 | 251 | 251 | 642 | 3.41 | — | 12,976 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 748 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 |
Career AVG .000 vs. league average .260 across their career seasons — 100.0% below league average.
Career OBP .000 vs. league average .326 across their career seasons — 100.0% below league average.
Career SLG .000 vs. league average .411 across their career seasons — 100.0% below league average.
Career OPS .000 vs. league average .737 across their career seasons — 100.0% below league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | SEA | AL | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 2005 | SEA | AL | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 2006 | CHA | AL | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 2007 | CHA | AL | 68 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 2008 | CHA | AL | 74 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 2009 | CHA | AL | 70 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 2010 | CHA | AL | 61 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 2011 | CHA | AL | 62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 2012 | CHA | AL | 74 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 2013 | CHA | AL | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 2013 | BOS | AL | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 2014 | NYA | AL | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 2014 | WAS | NL | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 2015 | WAS | NL | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 2016 | SDN | NL | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| Career · 15 seasons | 748 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1496 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 397 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Away | 351 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Pitching — Home / Away
| Split | G | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 397 | 356.2 | 323 | 136 | 119 | 362 | 3.43 |
| Away | 351 | 306.0 | 271 | 115 | 132 | 280 | 3.38 |
Last 10 Games — Pitching
| Date | Tm | Opp | Dec | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-08-02 | SDP | MIL | — | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016-07-31 | SDP | CIN | — | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016-07-25 | SDP | TOR | — | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016-07-24 | SDP | WAS | — | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016-07-18 | SDP | STL | — | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2016-07-08 | SDP | LAD | — | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016-07-06 | SDP | AZ | — | 1.0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2016-07-01 | SDP | NYY | — | 0.0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016-06-28 | SDP | BAL | — | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016-06-24 | SDP | CIN | — | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | SEA | P | 19 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 | SEA | P | 55 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 | CHA | P | 63 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 | CHA | P | 68 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| 2008 | CHA | P | 74 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 | CHA | P | 70 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| 2010 | CHA | P | 61 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | CHA | P | 62 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | CHA | P | 74 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 2 |
| 2013 | CHA | P | 40 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 2013 | BOS | P | 20 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | NYA | P | 46 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | WAS | P | 18 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | WAS | P | 60 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 | SDN | P | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 748 |
Salary History
Matt Thornton's recorded salaries total $28,153,000 over 12 seasons, 2005 to 2016. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Thornton's career ran from 2004 to 2016. No salary is recorded for 2004.
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | SDN | NL | $1,600,000 |
| 2015 | WAS | NL | $3,500,000 |
| 2014 | NYA | AL | $3,500,000 |
| 2013 | CHA | AL | $5,500,000 |
| 2012 | CHA | AL | $5,500,000 |
| 2011 | CHA | AL | $3,000,000 |
| 2010 | CHA | AL | $2,250,000 |
| 2009 | CHA | AL | $1,325,000 |
| 2008 | CHA | AL | $875,000 |
| 2007 | CHA | AL | $425,000 |
| 2006 | CHA | AL | $355,000 |
| 2005 | SEA | AL | $323,000 |
| Total recorded salary (partial) | $28,153,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Valley State University | Allendale | MI | 1998 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Matt Thornton (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Matt Thornton
Matt Thornton: the record in brief
Matt Thornton played a first major league game on June 27, 2004 and a last one on August 2, 2016. Thornton played for the Seattle Mariners (2004 through 2005), the Chicago White Sox (2006 to 2013), the Boston Red Sox (2013), the New York Yankees (2014), the Washington Nationals (2014 to 2015), and the San Diego Padres (2016). Thornton played primarily as a pitcher and threw and hit left-handed. The bio adds a birth date on September 15, 1976, in Three Rivers, MI, USA and a listed size of 235 pounds on a 6-foot-6 frame. Matt Thornton was the playing name; the full given name is Matthew J.
Thornton's career pitching line is 36 wins, 46 losses and a 3.41 ERA over 748 appearances. The totals include 642 strikeouts and 23 saves. That 3.41 ERA compares with a 4.17 league average across the same seasons, 18.2% better. The best win total was 6, in 2009.
Frequently Asked Questions about Matt Thornton
- What years did Matt Thornton play?
- Matt Thornton played in Major League Baseball from 2004 to 2016.
- Was Matt Thornton a pitcher?
- Yes. Matt Thornton pitched in the major leagues, recording 36 wins and 642 strikeouts.
- How many home runs did Matt Thornton hit?
- Matt Thornton hit 0 career home runs.
- What teams did Matt Thornton play for?
- Matt Thornton played for 6 teams: the Seattle Mariners (2004–2005), the Chicago White Sox (2006–2013), the Boston Red Sox (2013), the New York Yankees (2014), the Washington Nationals (2014–2015), and the San Diego Padres (2016).
- Did Matt Thornton win a Cy Young Award?
- No. Matt Thornton did not win the Cy Young Award.
- What awards did Matt Thornton win?
- Matt Thornton was selected to 1 All-Star Game.
- What were Matt Thornton's career stats?
- In 748 games, Matt Thornton went 36-46 with a 3.41 ERA, 642 strikeouts, 662.2 innings pitched, and 23 saves.
- How much did Matt Thornton earn in his career?
- Matt Thornton's recorded salaries total $28,153,000 over 12 seasons, 2005 to 2016. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Thornton's career ran from 2004 to 2016. No salary is recorded for 2004.
- What was Matt Thornton's salary?
- Matt Thornton's last recorded salary was $1,600,000, in 2016. His highest recorded salary was $5,500,000, in 2012, and his lowest was $323,000, in 2005. The Salary History table lists each season from 2005 to 2016.
- What position did Matt Thornton play?
- Matt Thornton played primarily as a pitcher, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Matt Thornton and how much did he weigh?
- Matt Thornton was listed at 6 feet 6 inches and 235 pounds.
- What was Matt Thornton's career ERA?
- Matt Thornton finished with a 3.41 career ERA, going 36-46 with 642 strikeouts.
- How many strikeouts did Matt Thornton have?
- Matt Thornton recorded 642 career strikeouts.
- Is Matt Thornton in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Matt Thornton has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.