Jonah Tong started the fourth game of the season for Double-A Binghamton. The 22-year-old righthander ended it as a key member of the Mets’ big league rotation, along with fellow callups Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat.
At the point he was called up Aug. 29, Tong led the minor leagues with a 1.43 ERA, 179 strikeouts and a .148 opponent average. That neatly summarizes the level of dominance he displayed in 20 Eastern League starts plus two more for Triple-A Syracuse.
The Mets drafted Tong in the seventh round in 2022, signing him for slot value. He grew up in Canada but transferred to Georgia Perimeter Academy to be scouted for the draft.
The Mets were drawn to Tong’s fastball metrics—especially its riding life—as well as his athletic delivery, one he modeled after Tim Lincecum. The former Giants ace appeared to jump at hitters with elite extension after an exaggerated loading of his weight on his back leg.
Tong checks a lot of the same boxes with his delivery. As he follows through, he tilts his torso dramatically to get to an overhand arm slot that helps him get true backspin and ride on his fastball.
It is Tong’s fastball that helped make him almost unhittable in the minor leagues. While he didn’t pitch much in his first full season, he opened eyes in 2024 with 160 strikeouts and a 3.03 ERA over 113 innings at three stops, primarily High-A Brooklyn.
Tong upped the ante this season after adding velocity to his fastball—it now sits in the mid 90s—and mastering a Vulcan grip changeup that gives him a plus secondary pitch. He also has feel to spin a high-70s curveball that he began throwing more often in MLB.
“When he gets his curveball going, he can have a lot of success with it,” Binghamton pitching coach Dan McKinney said. “He generated quite a bit of whiff versus lefthanded hitters with it … He threw it more last year when his changeup was a lower-usage pitch.
“This year, his changeup has taken off, but I really like his curveball.”
New York Minutes
— The Mets had no shortage of Player of the Year candidates on the farm this year. On the pitching side alone, righthander Jack Wenninger continued his progression with 147 strikeouts and a 2.92 ERA in 135.2 innings over 26 starts for Double-A Binghamton. Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat, both 2023 draftees, mastered Triple-A and made their MLB debuts. A trio of 2024 draftees—second-rounder Jonathan Santucci, seventh-rounder Will Watson and 13th-rounder R.J. Gordon—ranked among the organization’s strikeout leaders.
— On the hitting side, 2024 first-round outfielder Carson Benge reached Triple-A while showcasing all five tools. Third baseman Jacob Reimer had a three-homer game and ranked among the minor league leaders with 54 extra-base hits while acclimating to Double-A. Center fielder A.J. Ewing led the system with 70 stolen bases and a .401 on-base percentage while hitting .315 and playing four positions. This season, he shot from Low-A St. Lucie to Double-A Binghamton.