Jonah Tong is putting together one of the most dominant stretches in Binghamton Rumble Ponies history. On Wednesday, the 22-year-old right-hander was named Eastern League Pitcher of the Month for June, his second consecutive win. No player in franchise history had ever won the award in back-to-back months.

Tong was nearly untouchable in June, posting a 0.93 ERA and 0.69 WHIP over five starts while striking out 43 batters in 29 innings. That followed a stellar May in which he recorded a 1.35 ERA and 42 strikeouts, a month that also featured 6 2/3 perfect innings against Reading on May 10.

The combination of strikeout dominance and consistent deep outings has made Tong perhaps the most talked-about arm in the Mets’ system. He’s drawn comparisons to Tim Lincecum for his extreme overhand delivery, and it’s working for him. Even with roughly average velocity, his fastball jumps on hitters thanks to its sharp vertical break, and his breaking stuff plays up because of the unique angle.

Through 14 starts this season, Tong owns a 1.73 ERA with 115 strikeouts in just over 73 innings. Opponents are hitting a mere .137 against him, and his 40.5% strikeout rate ranks among the best in the minors. He’s also been selected to represent the Mets in the 2025 Futures Game, joining outfielder Carson Benge.

One of the fastest risers in the system, Tong’s back-to-back Pitcher of the Month awards indicate just how dominant he’s been. If he keeps this up, who knows what could happen. The Mets have taken a more cautious approach with his development, but his performance could end up forcing New York’s hand.

Aracena Dominates Florida State League

Flamethrowing righty Wellington Aracena was dominant in June with Low-A St. Lucie, posting a 1.13 ERA over 24 innings. His performance earned him the Florida State League Pitcher of the Month Award. Altogether, he has a 2.56 ERA across 52 2/3 innings as both a starter and reliever. Aracena sits 96-99 mph on his fastball, per FanGraphs, but has touched 101. He has yet to really refine his command.

In FanGraphs’ most recent re-ranking of Mets prospects, Aracena checked in at 14th in the Mets’ system. “Everything he throws is hard and requires a ton of effort, making him a cleaner fit in the bullpen. There Aracena has a chance to be a special weapon. There aren’t really many other big league pitchers whose stuff bears a resemblance to Aracena’s cutter-heavy mix,” FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen wrote.