The Jonah Tong era is officially underway in Queens.
The New York Mets called up their top pitching prospect about a week before the MLB roster-expansion date Sept. 1, and he will make his major-league debut Friday against the Miami Marlins.
Tong’s callup will coincide with the injury to starter Frankie Montas, who was placed on the 60-day injured list Monday. Montas, who is 3-2 with a 6.28 ERA and a minus-0.7 bWAR in 11 appearances, was diagnosed with a UCL injury in his right elbow.
What Did The Mets Say About Calling Up Jonah Tong?
The Mets’ top-three pitching prospects, Nolan McLean, Tong and 24-year-old Brandon Sproat, have been highly anticipated. But thus far only McLean has gotten the call and has been dominant, with a is 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings over two outings.
But even though Tong is just 22, he has also given the Mets no excuse to keep him in Triple-A. Tong is 10-5 with a 1.43 ERA and has a minor-league best 179 strikeouts in just 113 2/3 innings combined between Double-A Binghamton and Syracuse.
But Tong is 2-0 with no runs allowed, 17 strikeouts and fewer baserunners allowed (11) than innings pitched in Triple-A (11 2/3).
“I think itâs all about him dominating the minor leagues.” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said before New York’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. “You could make a case, alright itâs Double-A, you want to give him a better look at the Triple-A level, but, man, a couple of outings and I think itâs hard to keep him there. So, here he is now.”
Aside from Tong’s rapid ascent — he is just three years from playing high-school baseball in Canada — Montas’ injury gave New York a reason to call up Tong ahead of when rosters expand to 28 on Monday.
“We knew we were going to need a sixth starter, and he put himself in the conversation and here he is now,” Mendoza said. “Heâs going to get an opportunity for us.”
Though Tong earned his start, Mendoza would not commit to more than one major-league outing at a time. But he did say the Mets could keep him in the majors as long as he is pitching well.
“We’re going one start at a time,” Mendoza said.
What is Jonah Tong’s Pitch Arsenal?
Tong boasts a 65-grade fastball, that according to MLB Pipeline hovers between 91-94mph. But he has superb secondary pitches, notably his changeup and curveball, each of earned a 55 grade and can be as much as 20mph slower than his fastball.
Tong also has tinkered with a Vulcan-grip slider that can sit in the low 80s and has earned a 45 grade.
With a 6-1, 180-pound frame, Tong has drawn comparisons to former San Francisco Giants ace Tim Linecum, especially given his 12-6 curveball.
Yet, according to scouts, Tong needs to be careful with his control. His high strikeout total can also lead to a bevy of walks, since Tong is averaging more than four bases on balls per nine innings over his minor-league career.
Tong has nearly as many walks (47) as hits allowed (58) this year and is averaging 3.7 walks per nine innings across the minors this year.
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