MACK - All Things Tong + Graphic Stuff

 

Jonah Tong, TJ Shook Combine for Franchise’s First Perfect Game

Game Two: Rumble Ponies 6, Fightin Phils 0 (Final/7)

Tong (1-2) started for Binghamton and recorded a career-high 13 strikeouts over 6.2 perfect innings, coming one-out shy of completing it himself. Tong earned his first win of the season and tossed a career-high-tying 6.2 innings and threw 99 pitches and 61 strikes.

Tong struck out the side in the first inning, recorded two strikeouts in the second, two strikeouts in the third, one strikeout in the fourth, struck out the side in the fifth and struck out two batters in the sixth. Tong struck out 13 of the 20 batters that he faced.

Postgame Notes: It marked the first time Binghamton no-hit its opponent since Joander Suarez threw a seven-inning no-hitter at Hartford in the first game of a doubleheader on September 7, 2023…It marked the first time Binghamton no-hit its opponent at home since Bob Keppel threw a no-hitter against Portland on August 2, 2003

Jonah Tong leads way in combined perfect game for Double-A Binghamton

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6346827/2025/05/10/mets-prospect-jonah-tong-combined-perfect-game/

A seventh-round pick in 2022, Tong was one of the Mets’ breakout performers last season, compiling a 3.03 ERA and 34.2 percent strikeout rate in 113 innings across three levels, finishing the year with two starts at Binghamton.

He’s been even more dominant to open this season. Through six starts, Tong has a 2.57 ERA and a 44.7 percent strikeout rate.

Most impressive about his outing Saturday was his command. Tong entered the day walking nearly 15 percent of opposing hitters, and his ultimate success as a starter probably depends on his ability to limit those free passes. Saturday was just the fourth start of his professional career in which he didn’t walk a batter. His 6 2/3 innings Saturday tied a career high; his 99 pitches set one.

“He was challenging the hitters right away, working ahead. If he did fall behind, he made a quality pitch to get back into the count,” Reid Brignac said. “We want to see this growth in the ability to throw at least one pitch at any time over the plate. Today it was that fastball…. To see it all come together for an outing is really fun.”

As self-aware a 21-year-old prospect as you’ll find, Tong has tinkered with his arsenal this year to extract more velocity from his 6-foot-1 frame and to tighten up his slider into more of a traditional cutter. After Saturday, opposing teams are hitting .162 against Tong with just three extra-base hits.

“For Jonah to go out and pitch the way he did, it shows a lot of maturity and a lot of growth,” Brignac said. “All his teammates were so happy for him after the game, with Gatorade baths and shaving-cream pies to the face — just the works. We’re very happy for him and look for him to build off this.”

Thomas Nestico                 @TJStats

Jonah Tong already had one of the best fastballs in MiLB and this season his secondaries are falling in line. His changeup is vastly improved and his killer curveball is still tearing through batters

The Mets prospect pipeline is flourishing!

            Mack – And just when you thought Nolan McLean was enough…

            I’m not going to spend any time here lamenting that he should have been allowed to pitch to only one more batter. It was less than seven official innings and Tong’s pitch count was already 100. If this was a normal nine inning game, Tong could have easily wound up on the IL trying to accomplish a perfect game. To me, he was perfect enough here, mainly because he accomplished perfection in a statistic he has had trouble with… walking batters. There were none last night. This lowers his total to 14 over 28-IP. Still high, but lots better.

This was Tong’s sixth start this year so there is no rush to move him to Syracuse. Let the boy enjoy this with his current team. He’s earned it.

Thomas Nestico                 @TJStats

Clay Holmes continued his strong start to the season with another quality start yesterday

 

He now own a 2.74 ERA and 2.62 FIP across 42.2 IP

Team ERA vs FIP

 Team Starters ERA vs Bullpen ERA