Jonah Tong had the best outing of his big league career against the Baltimore Orioles last Monday. One unearned run on four hits and one walk in six innings, with six strikeouts. He was extremely efficient as well, getting through six in just 83 pitches. It was a glimpse of what Tong can do when things are going right. The hope was that would be the start of him building momentum at this level. However, he struggled in Sunday’s 7-2 loss against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Four runs on five hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings with five strikeouts. The Phillies got off to a fast start, scoring two runs in the first. Tong ended that inning with an awkward play at first base, colliding with Bryson Stott before taking a hard fall. After a trip down the tunnel, he was able to remain in the game. The Phillies tacked on two more runs in the third on RBIs from Trea Turner and Luis Arráez.
While the playing conditions were far from ideal on Sunday, the results still speak for themselves. Four walks put Tong in a really difficult position, not only in terms of his pitch count but also constant traffic on the bases. That was one of the big differences between his good and bad starts.
Jonah Tong by Roberto Carlo
“I don’t think he was far off today, I thought he did some good things. The changeup has been really good for him since he’s been up. He’s got a lot of strikeouts with it, messes with timing. Even if he doesn’t have the greatest feel for that, we have to find a way to reintroduce that and keep that part of the mix,” interim manager Andy Green said postgame.
A big talking point with Tong is adding a third effective pitch to his repertoire. In order to be a reliable big league starter, you need a deep mix. Getting the best hitters out with two strong pitches isn’t enough. Not at this level. To this point, that is what has held Tong back most. If he can get to a point where his four-seam fastball, cutter and changeup are all good weapons, the next step in his progression is attainable.
The young arms in the Mets’ rotation have fans excited about the pitching staff heading into 2027. Nolan McLean, Christian Scott and Zac Thornton have all shown promise this season. Tong has all the talent to be a part of that group. There is a reason the organization has chosen to trade other top prospects instead of him over the last few years. Tong should get one more start before the end of the regular season. A big opportunity to end the year on a high note.
