The New York Mets have advanced their No. 10 prospect after he excelled at both Class A levels.
A year ago, Jonah Tong, from Ontario, was finishing a tough rookie season in professional baseball following his selection in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft. Despite his impressive strikeout rate (16.3 K/9), Tong had issues with control, leading to 22 walks and a 6.00 ERA across 21 innings in Rookie Ball and Low-A.
However, Tong’s 2024 season has been a marked improvement. He started the year with Low-A St. Lucie, where he posted an impressive record of no earned runs over 18.2 innings and cut his walk rate from 9.4 BB/9 to 2.4 BB/9. His performance earned him a promotion to High-A Brooklyn, where he continued to shine.
Recently, The Athletic’s Will Sammon reported that the Mets have promoted Tong to Double-A Binghamton, just days after he struck out eight batters over five scoreless innings against the Phillies’ affiliate. In his 85 innings with Brooklyn, Tong had a 3.71 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Across both levels this season, he has achieved 146 strikeouts in 103.2 innings, with a 12.7 K/9 rate and a 3.7 BB/9 rate.
Tong’s strong performance this year has elevated him to the No. 10 spot in the Mets’ farm system according to MLB Pipeline. Standing 6-foot-1, the right-hander features a fastball that ranges from 92-94 mph and can reach 97 mph. His delivery generates an impressive vertical break of over 20 inches, making his fastball appear faster than its speed suggests, a metric that places him among the top three in MLB.
Tong also has a well-rounded pitch arsenal, including a mid-80s curveball, a sharp cutter/slider, and a changeup. This season, he has recorded five games with eight or more strikeouts, including two with double-digit strikeouts for Brooklyn.
MLB Pipeline estimates Tong’s major league debut could come in 2026. For now, the Mets will assess how he performs against more experienced hitters in Double-A to conclude the season.
About The Author
