New York Mets starting pitcher Jonah Tong (21) follows through on a pitch against the San Diego Padres during the third inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Regardless of how Monday’s outing went — his first start in the majors since June 2 and just his fourth this season — Jonah Tong got the guarantee from interim manager Andy Green that he will spend the remainder of the 2026 campaign in the big leagues.
“He’s had a good run here recently [in Triple-A], and we want to see him build on it,” Green said. “I think we’re all excited to see it, and we’ll continue to hand him the ball for the rest of this year. We’re not going to make a secret of that. He’s going to post when it’s his turn to pitch, and he hasn’t really had that knowledge at any point in his big-league career.
“We recognize there’s not a lot of season left, but the season that is left, he’s going to be in the rotation, and he’s going to get the baseball.”
This is the first real time that the 23-year-old right-hander is entering the majors with some semblance of stability.
After putting on a show, mostly in Double-A, last season, the Mets prematurely called him up in an attempt to save their season from an eventual collapse. Tong never stood a chance, and the then-22-year-old posted a 7.71 ERA across five starts.
He struggled to reel in his command for the majority of this season in Triple-A Syracuse, though he still got recalled for three emergency starts earlier this season and looked passable to the tune of a 3.60 ERA.
But Tong found his stuff over the last seven weeks and looks like the top-tier prospect that the Mets were banking on last year. Since July 18 (eight starts), he has owned a 2.20 ERA with 44 strikeouts and 20 walks, though he yielded two or fewer free passes in five of his last six starts.
“There are so many things that we have control over in our career,” Tong said. “Sometimes there are just lessons that have to be learned. I’m just really excited to see the person that I’ve become out of it.”
The Mets should be excited to see what they have with far less on the line. Tong should be in the conversation for a spot in the big-league rotation next season, meaning he would join a young, up-and-coming group that is already set to feature Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, and Zac Thornton.
“I think just day by day and brick by brick, I’m the same kid I was last year as I am this year,” Tong continued. “The only difference is I just have a boatload of experience that I didn’thave last year.”
For more on Jonah Tong and the Mets, visit AMNY.com
