Earlier this summer time, Jonah Tong posted a photograph carousel on Instagram that includes a number of pictures of himself carrying a Binghamton Rumble Ponies uniform with the caption, “Anyone know what a rumble pony is?” Possibly he figured it out over the following six begins, the one others he would make for Double-A Binghamton, but it surely may not be a query he wants a solution to.
Tong will make his big-league debut Friday night time, pitching for the Mets at Citi Area within the second recreation of a three-game set towards the Miami Marlins. The magnitude of the second just isn’t misplaced on Tong, a gregarious 22-year-old Canadian drafted in 2022. Up to now, he’s taking it in stride.
“If you had asked me at the beginning of the year if I thought that this was going to happen, I would tell you exactly what I’m going to tell you now: I’m going to be where my feet are,” Tong instructed reporters after arriving in Queens on Thursday afternoon. “I think everything else is going to take care of itself.”
It’s a giant second for the participant improvement division as nicely. Whereas Tong isn’t assured a rotation spot previous Friday, having three homegrown pitchers make Main League begins this season reveals some main progress with the beginning pitching pipeline. Brandon Sproat may very well be within the combine for a September call-up as nicely.
Jonah Tong of the New York Mets throws a pitch within the second inning in the course of the 2025 All-Star Futures Recreation at Truist Park on July 12, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Picture by Jamie Squire/Getty Photographs)
Blade Tidwell was the primary of the group to make his MLB debut this season, doing so in Might in St. Louis. The Mets used him to accumulate reliever Tyler Rogers from the San Francisco Giants on the commerce deadline, realizing there have been extra arms coming in Tong, Sproat and Nolan McLean.
The participant improvement division not too long ago graduated McLean to the large leagues, the place he’s had instantaneous success, turning into the primary participant in membership historical past to win his first three choices. Having confronted Tong, he is aware of the problem he brings together with his over-the-top supply.
“That kid is special,” McLean stated Wednesday after shutting out the Philadelphia Phillies over eight innings. “I remember when I first got drafted, I stood in as a hitter on one of his bullpens just to watch, and I haven’t seen a fastball like that before.”
It’s a tough fastball, but it surely’s the way in which he throws it with a slingshot-like supply, getting deep and much down the mound, that gives vital deception. Tong’s fastball has a ton of journey, with a vertical break of about 18 inches. It’s as if he pitches a lot taller than his 6-foot-1 body.
“It just gets on you, and it was only in a bullpen too,” McLean stated. “So I can’t imagine being a hitter and having to face them with the unique delivery, as well as mid-upper 90s [velocity].”
Tong has added extra pitches over the previous couple of seasons, with a changeup that has impressed scouts essentially the most.
“I know he’s developed three more pitches since then, and they’re all all plus,” McLean stated. “So it’s going to be fun to watch him Friday.”
It’s been a fast rise for Tong, who has made solely two Triple-A begins, however the Mets are adamant that he’s earned it. His poise on the mound, aptitude for studying and the outcomes on the mound this season pushed the Mets to name him up a season sooner than anticipated. Tong has gone 10-5 with a 1.43 ERA over 22 begins between Double- and Triple-A.
“I think as you roll into the last month of the season, you want to have the best roster you possibly can,” president of baseball operations David Stearns stated earlier this week. “We think Jonah has a chance to be among that. He’s earned the opportunity, and so we’re going to give him the start and look forward to seeing how it goes.”
