Tong-tastic! 2025 MiLB strikeout leader shines in season debut
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Jonah Tong's season debut wasn't necessarily flashy. Then again, it didn't need to be ... not on a 42-degree March day.
MLB's No. 48 prospect effectively mixed in his new cutter while displaying the hard-to-hit fastball he's become known for during a strong Opening Day performance for Triple-A Syracuse. Tong ran a high pitch count early but settled in to strike out four across four scoreless innings in a 3-1 win over Worcester at Polar Park.
The 22-year-old right-hander topped out at 96.9 mph and induced 11 whiffs among his 73 pitches (42 for strikes).
Tong issued consecutive walks in the opening frame but worked out of trouble and then retired 10 of the final 11 hitters -- including eight straight -- to end his outing. A 32-pitch first conspired against a deeper outing for the 22-year-old, who nonetheless needed just 39 pitches to complete his final three innings.
It was the type of performance the Mets hope to see more of from their No. 3 prospect, who roared through the Minors last season on his way to Queens for the final month of the campaign. Despite making his final Minor League start on Aug. 23, Tong ultimately led the Minors in ERA (1.43) and strikeouts (179) across 20 starts for Double-A Binghamton and two for Syracuse.
The offseason addition of All-Star Freddy Peralta to an already crowded starting rotation made Tong's assignment to the Minors something of a foregone conclusion this spring. Working on a cut fastball, the Toronto native allowed six runs in seven innings (two starts) during Spring Training, but more importantly carved out a 7/1 K/BB ratio.
Unsurprisingly, control was an issue at times last year for Tong, who entered 2026 with five Major League starts under his belt compared to just the pair at Triple-A. Although the right-hander was hit hard in two of his five MLB outings, Tong showed an ability to get big league hitters out, striking out 22 in 18 2/3 innings, including his MLB high of eight in a late-season showing against the Padres.