MIAMI -- A little more than a year after Jonah Tong made his Major League debut against the Marlins at Citi Field on Aug. 29, 2025, he shares that he is interested in getting to know the person he has become through the adversity faced since first taking an MLB mound.
On Monday in the opener of a three-game series at loanDepot park, the 23-year-old right-hander got another opportunity to do that. Tong tossed five innings with seven strikeouts, allowing four runs on four hits and one walk over 87 pitches in his first MLB start of the season, earning the win in the Mets' 9-4 victory.
Tong, the Mets’ No. 5 prospect, had a 4.54 ERA over 23 starts with Triple-A Syracuse in 2026. He had been pitching better of late, allowing one run or none in six of his last seven Triple-A starts. He will remain in the Mets’ rotation for the rest of the season.
Tong opened his outing by striking out Kyle Stowers, getting the first two strikes on check swings at four-seam fastballs with late movement. He finished Stowers with a 96.3 mph four-seamer.
He followed with a strikeout of Heriberto Hernández on a changeup, then struck out Griffin Conine on three pitches, finishing the inning with another changeup.
Tong continued to lean on his changeup in the second, striking out Otto Lopez to begin the frame on an 87.9 mph offering. But after Jakob Marsee singled for Miami’s first hit, Tong gave up an RBI triple to Javier Sanoja on a first-pitch, 90.2 mph cutter.
Owen Caissie drew a walk, bringing Graham Pauley to the plate. He put the Marlins ahead with a three-run homer to right field, turning a two-run Mets lead into a 4-3 Miami advantage.
Tong responded by striking out Stowers for the second time to end the inning.
He got another chance to face Pauley in the fourth and won that matchup, striking him out with an 87.8 mph changeup.