We end the Top
15 Prospect list with my number one pick…
#1 RHSP Jonah Tong
Jonah Tong is
a 22-year-old right-handed pitcher in the New York Mets' minor league system,
recognized as one of their top prospects (ranked No. 4 by Metsmerized Online
and No. 6 by MLB Pipeline in 2025). Born on June 19, 2003, in Markham, Ontario,
Canada, Tong was drafted by the Mets in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft
out of Georgia Premier Academy. Known for his unique, over-the-top delivery
reminiscent of Tim Lincecum, Tong has emerged as a fast-rising talent due to
his dominant performances across multiple minor league levels.
Career Overview Tong’s professional career
began slowly, with a 6.00 ERA over 21 innings in 2023 between the Florida
Complex League and Single-A St. Lucie. However, he broke out in 2024, posting a
3.03 ERA across 113 innings at three levels (Single-A St. Lucie, High-A Brooklyn,
and Double-A Binghamton), with 160 strikeouts and a 34.2% strikeout rate,
ranking sixth among minor leaguers with at least 100 innings. In 2025, he has
continued his dominance at Double-A Binghamton, achieving a 1.73 ERA through 14
starts, a 0.69 WHIP, and 115 strikeouts in 73 innings, leading all Double-A
pitchers in strikeouts. His standout performances include a near-perfect game
on May 10, 2025, where he retired 20 of 20 batters over 6.2 innings, striking
out 13. Tong earned Eastern League Pitcher of the Month honors for May and June
2025, a historic back-to-back achievement for Binghamton.
Up-to-date
2024 stats, as of
Pitching Repertoire
Tong’s
arsenal is built around deception and movement, with a focus on his fastball
and evolving secondary pitches. Here’s a breakdown of his repertoire based on
available data:
Four-Seam Fastball (90-94
MPH, tops out at 97 MPH) Tong’s primary
pitch, thrown from a high, overhand arm slot, generates exceptional ride (20+
inches of induced vertical break, top-10 in the minors for 2024).
Despite
fringe-average velocity (averaging 92.8 MPH in Single-A), the pitch’s backspin,
extension, and unique release point create a “ride cut” effect, leading to a
49.1% whiff/swing rate in 2024. It excels when elevated, causing frequent
swing-and-misses.
Scouts note
that adding strength to his lean 6’1”, 180-pound frame could boost velocity
further.
Slider (Mid-80s) A cutter-like pitch with hard, gyroscopic
break (2-6 inches horizontal movement, 26-37 inches vertical drop).
In 2024, Tong
increased his reliance on the slider, making it his primary strikeout pitch
after his fastball, surpassing his curveball. Its tight break is effective
against right-handed hitters, complementing his fastball’s movement.
Curveball (Mid-70s) A 12-6 curve with extreme depth, used to
change eye levels and disrupt hitters.
Highly
effective against lower-level hitters, but scouts note advanced hitters may
pick it up better due to a slightly different release point. It remains a key
part of his arsenal but has been somewhat overshadowed by his slider in 2024.
Changeup A developing pitch, used sparingly, with
limited public data on velocity or movement.
Challenging to master from his overhand arm slot, but it serves as an off-speed offering to disrupt hitters’ timing and enhance his fastball’s effectiveness. Its potential is critical for his development as a starter.
Additional
Notes
Command: Tong’s control is fringe-average, with a
3.74 BB/9 rate in 2024 (47 walks in 113 innings). Improving command is key to
his future as a starter, though his walk rate improved in his near-perfect game
in 2025 (zero walks).
Mechanics: His unorthodox, high-effort delivery,
compared to Lincecum and Roy Halladay, contributes to his deception but may
limit athleticism and control. His release point creates a low vertical
approach angle (VAA), enhancing his fastball’s effectiveness.
Future Outlook: Tong’s deception and strikeout ability make
him a candidate for a high-leverage reliever or swingman role, but his
four-pitch mix and improved command suggest rotation potential. MLB.com
projects a 2026 MLB debut, though his 2025 performance could accelerate this
timeline. He’s expected to move to Triple-A Syracuse soon, potentially
positioning him for a late-2025 call-up if he maintains his dominance.
New York Mets @Mets
We have made
the following roster moves
Thomas Nestico @TJStats
Nolan McLean (NYM) continues to decimate AAA
batters!
He racked up
10 K across 6.0 while leaning on his strong breaking balls and generating a ton
of whiffs. He is going to be a stud!
Trade Targets
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6467560/2025/07/02/mlb-trade-deadline-predictions-alcantara-naylor/
Ryan Helsley, RHRP, Cardinals
The Cardinals
are in the NL Central and NL wild-card races and appear closer to being a buyer
than a seller. However, Helsley is eligible for free agency this offseason and
St. Louis could decide that trading him at the deadline for future assets makes
more sense than keeping him. How the team performs in July will determine if
Helsley is dealt, according to one AL GM who has talked with the Cardinals.
Helsley, 30,
has a 3.41 ERA over 29 appearances and 16 saves. Batters are hitting just .077
against his wipeout slider, although they’ve been teeing off on his 99 mph
four-seamer, hitting .429 against that pitch.
Jim Koenigsberger @Jimfrombaseball
"All
that analysis and all those statistics are well and good, but what I need right
now is a left-handed batter who can hit the ball over the shortstop's
head."
Casey Stengel
Mets most
forgotten selection from the past quarter-century
New York
Mets: Taijuan Walker, 2021
Walker made
the All-Star team by going 7-3 with a 2.66 ERA in the first half. It turns out
that he was done winning for the season. After the game, in which Walker
allowed a home run to Mike Zunino, he went 0-8 with a 7.13 ERA, part of a
teamwide collapse in the second half.
Carson Benge
https://www.mlb.com/news/mets-2025-draft-preview?partnerID=web_article-share
Day 1 picks:
38, 102
Bonus pool
allotment: $5,465,900, 29th in MLB
Last year’s
top pick: Carson Benge, OF, pick 19 -- A two-way player at Oklahoma State,
Benge retired as a pitcher upon signing with the Mets. So far, the transition
to become a full-time position player has agreed with Benge, who slashed
.302/.417/.480 over 60 games at High-A Brooklyn to earn a quick promotion to
Double-A Binghamton. Currently the Mets’ No. 3 prospect, Benge has demonstrated
elite plate discipline and will look to add more power as he matures.
Top 40
players on market as July 31 approaches
1 Jarren
Duran
Age 28
Position OF
B/T L/R
Fits: NYM,
PHI, SD
Deal
likelihood
Value:
Controllable do-everything outfielder
Analysis: To
be clear: There’s little reason for Boston to even entertain offers for Duran
unless the return is substantial. His production has predictably fallen short
of his 2024 breakout, but Duran remains a solidly above-average hitter with
lots of speed and the ability to play center field.
Perhaps most
importantly, he’s under team control through 2028, making him a player that
teams can build around. Of course, even with a sudden influx of stud prospects
joining the lineup, the Red Sox could continue to build around him, too. The
Padres have already been linked to Duran and surely they won’t be alone.
Owed in 2025 $1.2 million
Controlled
through 2028
2 Alex
Bregman
Age 31
Position 3B
B/T R/R
Fits CHC, DET, SEA
Deal
likelihood
Value:
Legitimate star with ample playoff experience
Analysis: In
this context, Bregman is an unusual player with an unusual contract playing for
an unusual team. When healthy, he is one of the best third basemen in baseball,
and he was playing that way at the start of the season. But Bregman has been
out since mid-May with a quad strain, his three-year, $120-million contract is
expensive and has opt outs after this year and next, and the Red Sox are
clinging to the edge of playoff viability, perhaps not eager to sell despite
having already traded away Rafael Devers.
There are a
lot of X factors to consider, but Bregman has the championship track record to
be an X factor himself. He’s nearing a return from the IL, and is expected to
be back soon after the All-Star break. Is that timeline going to hold? Are the
Red Sox going to sell? What are interested teams going to make of his contact?
Bregman is an All-Star, but he’s also a curious trade candidate.
Owed in 2025 $11.1 million
Controlled
through 2025
3 Seth Lugo
Age 35
Position SP
B/T R/R
Fits CHC, LAD, SD
Deal
likelihood
Value: Late
bloomer in the rotation
Analysis:
Lugo had a breakout season in 2024, pitching more than 200 innings with a 3.00
ERA and finished second in AL Cy Young Award voting. Now 35, his surface-level
numbers are almost identical this year. The pitch and batted ball data suggest
he’s not been as good as a year ago, but Lugo has remained plenty effective. He
has a player option for 2026 he’s unlikely to exercise barring injury, meaning
the right-hander should be considered a rental.
Owed in 2025 $4.8 million
Controlled
through 2025
4 Emmanuel Clase
Age 27
Position RP
B/T R/R
Fits ARI, ATL, PHI
Deal
likelihood
Value: Top
five (at least) closer in baseball
Analysis: If
you haven’t checked in a while, you might remember that Clase was having a
shockingly bad season. He finished the month of April with twice as many earned
runs as he allowed all of last year. But that’s changed. Clase had a weird
blown save over the weekend — hit batter, stolen base, wild pitch — and he’s
not been as dominant as he was the past three seasons, but he’s still throwing
his cutter 99 mph, and he’s been much better since the start of May. (And even
before that, he’d earned more than a little benefit of the doubt).
Clase is
signed through 2026 with $10-million club options in ’27 and ’28. He’s been an
institution in Cleveland, but a low-spending team like the Guardians might have
to cash in while they’re having a sub-.500 season.
Owed in 2025 $1.4 million
Controlled
through 2028
4 comments:
My brother Steve wants the Mets to be AGGRESSIVE at this trade deadline. Do it, then win it all.
Tong has 11 walks in last 35 innings in June/July. His control is fine. He strikes out tons by getting chases, but they don’t always chase.
No
He still needs work on finding zone
I believe they will be.
Ernest isn't going to be happy when a shiteload of his kiddies change uniforms
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