Feb 13, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Jonah Tong (21) pitches a live batting practice during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Jonah Tong was not expected to factor into the New York Mets’ starting rotation if fully healthy, at least to start 2026, but it was made official on Tuesday when he was optioned to Triple-A, the team announced.
The 22-year-old made one Grapefruit League appearance this spring, allowing three earned runs in 2.2 innings of work — though the outing was used to experiment with a new cutter that he is trying to introduce into his arsenal this year.
The Mets are already entering the new season with a six-man rotation. The newly acquired Freddy Peralta heads a unit that will also feature Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Sean Manaea, and Kodai Senga. Manager Carlos Mendoza has already made it clear throughout this spring that he is not considering a five-man rotation.
It became abundantly clear last season that Tong needed more seasoning in the minor leagues before breaking into the bigs full-time. In an act of desperation as the rest of New York’s rotation imploded, the righty was called up to the majors after just two starts in Triple-A. In five outings, he posted a 7.71 ERA, but also flashed some high-level stuff.
Should things go to plan, the Mets will not need Tong this season, meaning he will have a full season in Syracuse to work on his arsenal and the mental side of the game, and will likely be ready to make the jump next year.
“Baseball is a complicated game,” Tong said last month. “It’s my favorite, obviously, but it can be a roller coaster. I think the main thing that I want to take into it from what I learned last year is just how to stay neutral in all of it because at the end of the day, you’re gonna have days where you’re going to absolutely carve and on other days, you’re going to get your teeth kicked in.
“Being able to stay the same person through it all is probably the most important thing.”
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