MACK - Let's Revisit - RHSP - Jonah Tong

 

MACK - Let's Revisit - RHSP - Jonah Tong

Jonah Tong is a 23-year-old right-handed pitcher for the New York Mets (born June 19, 2003, in Markham, Ontario, Canada; 6'1", 180 lbs). He’s a Canadian (half-Chinese on his father’s side) who was selected by the Mets in the 7th round (209th overall) of the 2022 MLB Draft out of high school (Bill Crothers Secondary School / Georgia Premier Academy) after committing to North Dakota State. He signed and rose rapidly through the system.

en.wikipedia.org

Career Path and Performance

• Minors breakout: He dominated in 2024–2025. In 2025 he posted a 1.43 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A (113.2 IP, 179 K, leading the minors in strikeouts at the time of his call-up), earning Baseball America Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors and Futures Game recognition. He was a top Mets prospect (often ranked No. 2–5 overall in the system, top-50-ish industry-wide at peaks).
  baseballamerica.com
• MLB debut (2025): Called up in late August 2025, he made five starts and went 2-3 with a 7.71 ERA (18.2 IP, 22 K, 9 BB). He had strong moments (e.g., debut win vs. Marlins: 5 IP, 1 ER, 6 K; another strong outing vs. Padres) but struggled with inconsistency and some defensive support issues.
  en.wikipedia.org
• 2026: Started the year optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Recalled in late May for three bulk-relief appearances (3.60 ERA in 10 IP) before being optioned again in early June due to command issues and inefficiency. Overall Triple-A numbers have been uneven (ERA around the mid-4s to mid-5s earlier, inflated by a few bad outings and home runs), but he has turned it around strongly of late: roughly 2.00–2.20 ERA over recent stretches (including a near no-hitter/one-hit shutout over 7 innings in late August with 8 K). Walks remain a concern at times, but stuff and results have improved. 
  mlb.com
• 2026 thru Aug - AAA: 5-6, 4.54, 1.37, 23-ST, 107-IP, 126-K 

He has a high-effort, athletic delivery often compared to Tim Lincecum (over-the-top/high arm slot historically ~64°, with big extension and a drop-and-drive action). The Mets have worked on mechanical tweaks (arm angle has varied/lowered some in 2026 toward more average over-the-top levels) and arsenal expansion to improve consistency and command. Command/walk rate has been the main developmental hurdle (can run high), though his pure stuff generates elite swing-and-miss when he’s locating.Pitching RepertoireTong features a north-south (up/down) oriented arsenal that plays off his arm slot and extension for unique movement and deception. Core pitches (velocities approximate from reports across levels; they can tick up in short bursts):

• Four-seam fastball (primary pitch, often 50–60% usage): Mid-to-upper 90s (sits ~93–96 mph, touches 97–99). Elite “ride”/induced vertical break (historically ~19–20+ inches IVB in peak minors/MLB samples—among the highest in the game), with some cut. Plays up high in the zone for swings and misses; extension makes it play even harder. Grade often 60.
  mlb.com
• Changeup (key secondary, often 20–30%+ usage): Mid-80s (around 84–87 mph). Vulcan/modified grip (developed/refined with Mets input, sometimes described as two-seam Vulcan or horseshoe orientation). Excellent separation from the fastball (lower IVB, armside run/fade), generating high whiff rates (often 50%+ in strong minor-league samples) and chase. Became a standout pitch in 2025 and remains a major weapon (elite xwOBA in some samples). Grade often 55–60.
  mlb.com
• Curveball: Upper-70s (mid-to-high 70s, ~75–79 mph). Big 12–6 “downer” with heavy vertical drop (can show massive inches of break). Tunnels well with the rising fastball for the north-south effect. Usage varies (around 10–15% in some looks); more of a show-me or putaway pitch at times.
• Cutter / slider variations: He has added and refined hard cutters (low-to-mid 90s, ~90–92+ mph in recent looks—hard for the pitch type) and shorter/harder slider shapes (upper-80s or so) as bridge pitches. These help vs. same-side hitters and provide east-west movement to complement the primarily vertical arsenal. Cutter usage has increased notably in 2026 (teens of percent in some samples) as a development focus; earlier slider usage was lower. These are works in progress but add depth.
  mlb.com

Overall: Electric stuff with high swing-and-miss potential (elite K rates in the minors, often 30–40%+), driven by the fastball-changeup combo and unique delivery. The curve and newer cutter/slider give him a fuller mix. Command and consistency (especially locating the fastball and limiting hard contact/HRs) remain the keys to sustained big-league success. When everything clicks, he looks like a mid-rotation or better starter with ace upside; the Mets view him highly as a future rotation piece despite the ups and downs.He’s currently (as of late August 2026) performing well enough at Triple-A that another MLB opportunity appears realistic in the near term.