Injured M’s reliever Trent Thornton was best part of clinch celebration

Sep 24, 2025, 9:38 AM

Editor, Seattle Sports

While the Seattle Mariners have caught fire since the July 31 MLB trade deadline, they have not forgotten about one fallen player who wasn’t able to come along for the ride.

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Trent Thorton suffered a season-ending torn Achilles while trying to cover first base on a ground ball on July 31, and in the games since, his jersey has been prominently hung in the Mariners’ bullpen – whether they were playing at home or on the road.

It’s clear Thornton’s teammates appreciate what he’s done for the team since coming over from the Toronto Blue Days during the 2023 season. And that’s probably why Thornton was cheered on during perhaps the most memorable moment of the Mariners’ celebration at T-Mobile Park after their 4-3 comeback win over the Colorado Rockies that clinched Seattle’s first playoff spot since 2022.

With the Mariners huddled around the first-base line, Thornton took center stage and circled the bases.

Of course, with his injury, it was probably a different way than you’ve ever seen someone go from second base to home plate. That’s because Thornton, whose is still wearing a boot on his left foot, made the trip with the aid of a knee scooter.

That has to be a first for an on-field celebration after a team punched its ticket to the postseason.

The 31-year-old Thornton, who appeared in 33 games this season, missed a month earlier in the year due to appendicitis. While his numbers weren’t the best in 2025 (4.68 ERA, 1.299 WHIP), he was a key reliever for Seattle in 2024 (3.61 ERA, 1.134 WHIP in 71 appearances) and in the second half of 2023 (2.08 ERA, 1.077 WHIP in 23 appearances) after a late July trade to Seattle from Toronto.

The Mariners – and Thornton – could be in for another celebration on Wednesday night. At 88-69 with a four-game lead in the American League West and just five games remaining, Seattle’s magic number to clinch its first division title since 2001 is down to just one. That means that with one Mariners win or one Astros loss before the regular season ends Sunday, the M’s will clinch the AL West crown.

With playoffs clinched, Mariners’ magic number for AL West is one

The Mariners play the middle contest of their three-game series against the MLB-worst Rockies (43-114) at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday, with radio coverage on Seattle Sports beginning at 5:30 with the pregame show.

The Astros (84-73) continue their series with the Athletics (74-83) in Sacramento at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday.