Mets Minors Recap: Jonah Tong Continues To Struggle

After a breakout 2025, Jonah Tong has not looked like the team’s top pitching prospect this season. He entered Saturday with a 1-5 record in 11 starts, lugging a 6.13 ERA and 1.49 WHIP into his start against Norfolk. He was roughed up again, allowing seven runs (three earned) on eight hits over three innings.

Syracuse battled back from 7-2 and 10-5 deficits and scored twice in the ninth, winning 11-10 on a Yonny Hernandez walk-off sacrifice fly.

Francisco Lindor, who singled for Binghamton on Friday, was given the day off Saturday. He will play for Syracuse Sunday and then the Mets will decide whether he is ready for major-league action.

Jonah Tong. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Triple-A

Norfolk Tides (28-46) 10, Syracuse Mets (37-37) 11

Box Score

SS Ronny Mauricio, 1-for-4, SB, R, K (.956 OPS)
C Ben Rortvedt, 2-for-2, HR (5), 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R, 3 BB (.769 OPS)
3B-SS Vidal Bruján, 2-for-5, 2B, RBI, R, K (.639 OPS)
DH Kevin Parada, 3-for-5, 2B, RBI, R (.860 OPS)
CF Nick Morabito, 1-for-4, 2 R, BB, K (.765 OPS)

Rortvedt homered for the second night in a row. Mauricio singled in his second rehab game since fracturing his left thumb sliding head-first into first base against the Angels on May 2.

RHP Jonah Tong (6.30 ERA) 3 IP, 7 R (3 ER), 8 H, 3 BB, 3 K, HR
RHP Joey Gerber (6.86 ERA) 2 IP, H, BB, 3 K
RHP Jonathan Pintaro (3.63 ERA) 3 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, BB, 3 K

Tong has coughed up 10 homers in 50 innings for Syracuse. He allowed eight homers in his three previous years in the minors covering 247 2/3 innings.

Nick Lorusso. Photo Credit: Rick Nelson

Double-A

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (33-33) 2, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (27-41) 10

Box Score

1B Nick Lorusso, 1-for-4, HR (11), 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, K (.760 OPS)
DH Chris Suero, 2-for-5, RBI, K (.771 OPS)
LF Jaylen Palmer, 2-for-3, HR (1), 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R, BB, K (.723 OPS)
3B Kevin Villavicencio, 2-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 R, K (.690 OPS)

Palmer connected for a two-run homer and a two-run double. Villavicencio hit his first Double-A homer in his 13th game for Binghamton after smacking two for Brooklyn this season. Lorusso’s blast pulled him into a tie for the team lead with Suero.

LHP Max Green (3.86 ERA) 5 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 2 K, HR
RHP Danis Correa (2.08 ERA) 1 1/3 IP, 2 K, W
RHP Garrett Stratton (0.00 ERA) H, 3 K
RHP Justin Armbruester (0.00 ERA) IP, K

Green, 30, rebounded from a rough start his last time out (six earned runs, 3 1/3 innings) with his longest minor-league outing.

Mitch Voit. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

High-A

Brooklyn Cyclones (25-42) 2, Wilmington Blue Rocks (33-34) 4

Box Score

1B Corey Collins, 2-for-3, 2B, BB (.792 OPS)
CF John Bay, 1-for-4, SB, K (.761 OPS)
RF JT Benson, 1-for-4, R, K (.827 OPS)

Bay stole his 17th base in 21 tries, which is second on the team to Mitch Voit (23). Collins is 13-for-50 with four homers and two doubles in June.

RHP Jose Chirinos (3.86 ERA) 5 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, BB, 3 K, L
RHP Josh Blum (0.00 ERA) 1 1/3 IP, H, K

Chirinos allowed a season high in earned runs and hits. The 21-year-old Venezuelan has struck out 71 in 63 innings combined at Brooklyn and St. Lucie.

Single-A

Daytona Tortugas (21-46) vs. St. Lucie Mets (34-33)

Postponed

The game will be made up as part of an August 5 doubleheader.

Florida Complex League

FCL Astros (26-7) 6, FCL Mets (14-19) 5

Box Score

CF Wyatt Vincent, 1-for-3, HR (3), 3 RBI, SF (.829 OPS)
1B Yeider Mindiola, 1-for-2, HR (1), 2 R, BB (.719 OPS)
2B Yorber Semprun, 2-for-3, SB (.664 OPS)

Vincent, a 19-year-old drafted in the 11th round out of a Missouri high school last year, homered for the second straight game.

RHP Dillon Stiltner (12.08 ERA) 2 IP, ER, H, BB, 3 K, HR

Dominican Summer League

DSL Cardinals (8-7) 14, DSL Mets Blue (6-9) 2

Box Score

CF Jonnhan Sanchez, 2-for-2, RBI, SF, SB, BB (1.114 OPS)
1B Frank Moreno, 1-for-4 (.841 OPS)

Sanchez is off to an excellent start, slashing .404/.540/.574 with two homers and nine stolen bases in 14 games after posting a .744 OPS in 20 DSL games last year. He’s a 19-year-old from Venezuela. Mets Blue led 2-1 before giving up 13 consecutive runs.

LHP Cristopher Hernandez (3.86 ERA) 2/3 IP, K

DSL Mets Orange (9-6) 10, DSL Giants Black (9-6) 19

Box Score

DH Cleiner Ramirez, 2-for-4, HR (3), 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB (.941 OPS)
SS Sebastian Toro, 1-for-5, 2 RBI, R, 2 K (.710 OPS)
3B Roni Garcia, 2-for-2, 2 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB (.439 OPS)

Ramirez is 15-for-53 in 13 games after signing for a $1.3 million bonus in January. The 17-year-old from Venezuela has drawn comparisons to Luisangel Acuña. Mets Orange led 5-0 before giving up 16 consecutive runs.