Zac Thornton shows off more than just his stuff in Mets’ win over Phillies

After start No. 14 — essentially half a season’s worth of work in which he has more than held his own — Zac Thornton received an endorsement and a challenge. 

“I do think this is who he is,” interim manager Andy Green said after Thornton impressed again in a 6-3 win over the Phillies in front of 29,764 at Citi Field on Friday. 

But. 

“We don’t hand you a job next year because you had 14 good starts,” Green later added, showing the player-development-executive side of himself who knows how to motivate. 

The Mets probably are not yet writing Thornton’s name in ink among next year’s starting rotation, but with each start his case has grown stronger. 

The lefty does not have elite stuff but competes with what he has in the strike zone and, so far at least, rarely loses. Against an imposing, likely playoff-bound lineup, Thornton allowed just two runs on five hits and a walk in six strong innings.

He has pitched twice against Philadelphia and has turned in two quality starts. 

All from a pitcher without major prospect hype and who strains to throw 95 mph and yet owns a 3.40 ERA largely due to his aggression: He has walked two or fewer hitters in 13 of his first 14 starts, joining Mike Bruhert as the only pitchers in franchise history to do so. 

“It’s great just to prove myself right,” Thornton said after his eighth quality start, “prove a lot of others wrong.” 

As Green made clear, he will have to continue proving himself. The interim manager challenged Thornton, who is “185 pounds soaking wet,” to gain weight this offseason and watch the velocity tick up with the extra pounds.

There is another level Thornton can reach, Green said, if he wants to ensure he slides in with Nolan McLean, Christian Scott and whomever else in next season’s rotation. 

Even so, this version of Thornton is pretty good — his arm and his glove, which sparkled in the fifth when Trea Turner hit a tapper toward first base. 

Thornton raced toward the line as first baseman Brett Baty gave up chase and stood with his foot on the base. Thornton did not quite grab the ball but instead shoveled it — fielding and tossing in one swift motion before tumbling into foul territory — for a bounce pass to Baty, who scooped it to retire the speedy Turner for the second out of the top of the fifth. 

Thornton hit the dirt hard and was checked by a trainer, but the Mets were thankful there was no further reminder of the Jared Young incident a night prior. Thornton shook himself off, threw a warmup pitch, and then struck out Bryce Harper swinging, allowing himself a fist-pump as he walked off the field. 

“Pretty typical for him,” Green said of a pitcher who is trying to prove that this, indeed, is typical for him. “Just on the attack the whole day.”