Tong will remain in the Mets rotation during the upcoming week and is set to make his next start Friday in Cincinnati.
The young right-hander cruised to an easy win in his MLB debut, striking out six batters while allowing four runs (one earned) on six hits and no walks in the Mets' 19-9 rout of the Marlins on Friday. Tong led the minors with 179 punchouts prior to his promotion, but whether the top prospect sticks in the rotation throughout September could hinge on how he performs at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park, as Tylor Megill (elbow) is in the midst of a rehab assignment and could be ready to return from the 60-day injured list the next time the Mets would need a sixth starter. The team could also keep spots open in a six-man rotation for both Tong and Megill by moving Clay Holmes to the bullpen, as Holmes has already more than doubled his innings count from 2024 while he serves as a full-time starter for the first time since 2018.
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Mets' Jonah Tong: Collects win in first career start
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Tong (1-0) earned the win against the Marlins on Friday, allowing four runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out six across five innings. He did not issue a walk.
The 22-year-old Tong looked composed in his major-league debut, keeping the Marlins off the board through the first four innings. The Marlins managed to end the scoreless bid by bringing home four runs in the fifth (though only one was charged to Tong due to an error and a wild pitch), but the Mets provided plenty of run support for him to come away with the win in his major-league debut. Per the Mets' official broadcast, Tong's win Friday and Nolan McLean's victory Aug. 16 marked the first time in franchise history that two starting pitchers got a victory in their major-league debut in the same season. Tong isn't cemented in the Mets' rotation for the rest of the regular season, but he is lined up to take on the Reds on the road next weekend, when he'll look to capture his second win in the majors.
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Mets' Jonah Tong: Added to roster ahead of debut
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The Mets selected Tong's contract from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.
Tong is set to make his major-league debut Friday against the Marlins at Citi Field. The 22-year-old posted a 1.43 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with 179 strikeouts in 113.2 innings covering 22 starts between Double-A Binghamton and Syracuse. Tong isn't guaranteed any starts beyond Friday's debut, but a strong performance could convince the Mets he should stick around alongside fellow rookie Nolan McLean.
Tong, who will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse to start Friday's game against the Marlins, won't be guaranteed any additional turns through the big-league rotation, Will Sammon and Tim Britton of the Athletic report. "We're going turn by turn at this point," president of baseball operations David Stearns said Tuesday. "We try not to plan too far ahead."
The minor-league strikeout leader will make his MLB debut Friday as the Mets build in an extra day of rest for other members of the rotation amid a busy portion of the schedule. Whether Tong forces New York to stick with a six-man rotation moving forward or bumps one of the veterans starters to the bullpen will likely depend on how he fares Friday, and whether he gives the club the best chance to win games in a tight playoff race.
The Mets will call up Tong from Triple-A Syracuse to make his MLB debut with a start Friday against the Marlins at Citi Field, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that the Mets will move to a six-man rotation to accommodate the arrival of Tong, who was established himself as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball this season. The 22-year-old righty has followed up his breakout 2024 season with an even better showing in 2025, accruing a 1.43 ERA and 0.92 WHIP to go with a minor-league-best 179 strikeouts in 113.2 innings covering 22 starts between Double-A Binghamton and Syracuse. Tong isn't necessarily guaranteed any starts beyond his debut, but he will get the chance to state his case to remain in the Mets rotation moving forward.
Mets' Jonah Tong: Could be part of six-man rotation
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Tong could be a candidate to receive a call-up from Triple-A Syracuse to start Friday against the Marlins if the Mets elect to expand their rotation to six men, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
Tong didn't get promoted to Triple-A until earlier this month, but in his first two starts at the level, he's fired 11.2 shutout innings while striking out 17 and allowing three walks. He leads all minor-league pitchers with 179 punchouts over 113.2 innings on the season and has done everything he can to prove he's ready for a look in the majors. With the Mets in a tight playoff race, the 22-year-old right-hander could provide the boost the team needs to get across the finish line. If the Mets opt not to call up Tong, the team could activate the rehabbing Tylor Megill (elbow) from the 60-day injured list to start Friday, which would buy an extra day of rest for David Peterson and Kodai Senga.
Tong gave up three hits and two walks over 5.2 scoreless innings for Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday. He struck out nine.
The MiLB strikeout leader kept on racking up whiffs in his Triple-A debut. Tong has a stunning 1.59 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 171:46 K:BB through 107.2 innings on the season between Double-A and Triple-A, and while the fact that the 2022 seventh-round pick isn't on the 40-man roster might delay his big-league debut until 2026, he appears to have little left to prove in the minors.
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Mets' Jonah Tong: Makes jump to Triple-A
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The Mets promoted Tong from Double-A Binghamton to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Tong will make the leap to Triple-A after posting a 1.59 ERA with an eye-popping 162 strikeouts over 102 innings in 20 starts with Binghamton this season. The right-hander will be the headliner of a prominent trio of starting pitching prospects at Syracuse that also includes Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean.
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Mets' Jonah Tong: Dominant again at Double-A
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Tong struck out eight while allowing three hits and two walks over five scoreless innings for Double-A Binghamton on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old right-hander has absolutely nothing left to prove in the Eastern League. Tong hasn't served up a home run since late May, and over 53 innings since the beginning of June he sports a 1.02 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 82:20 K:BB. The minor-league strikeout leader with 154 punchouts in 97 innings on the season, Tong should be getting a promotion to Triple-A any day now, especially with the trade of Blade Tidwell to the Giants having opened up a spot in the Syracuse rotation.
Tong has racked up a 2.15 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 91:19 K:BB through 54.1 innings this season for Double-A Binghamton.
The 21-year-old right-hander has been all but untouchable over the last month, posting a 1.09 ERA and 14.5 K/9 over his last six starts, and a promotion to Triple-A Syracuse is likely on the horizon. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns didn't rule out Tong making his big-league debut in 2025 either, David Adler of MLB.com reports. If a spot in the majors for a top prospect opens up later this summer, Tong would be competing with Nolan McLean for the honor, as the latter has more than held his own since getting bumped up to Triple-A in early May.
Tong struck out 10 and allowed one hit and one walk over four scoreless innings for Double-A Binghamton on Sunday.
The 21-year-old righty is racking up Ks in the Eastern League, and his control might be taking a step forward as well. After issuing five passes in his first start of the season, Tong has posted a 25:6 K:BB over his last three starts (13.1 innings). He could rise up prospect lists quickly if he continues to dominate and develops a little more efficiency.
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