Mets set for major-league debut as Jonah Tong lines up to start vs. Marlins
Right-hander Jonah Tong, ranked No. 52 among baseball prospects, is slated to make his major-league debut with the New York Mets this week, likely taking the mound against the Miami Marlins on Friday.
“It’s all about him dominating the minor leagues,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “It’s hard to keep him there.”
Tong’s climb through the minors has accelerated this season. He has advanced to the point where President of Baseball Operations David Stearns has spoken about wanting prospects to conquer a level before promotion, and Tong has essentially done so in three straight levels over the past two seasons. In his latest Triple-A stint with Syracuse, Tong has yet to surrender a run, fanning 17 while issuing just three walks over 11 2/3 innings.
Season stats reflect his rapid ascent: a 1.43 ERA over 113 2/3 innings, with 179 strikeouts and 47 walks. Stearns acknowledged Tong’s steady progression, saying, “He really conquered everything we put in front of him. He exceeded our expectations throughout the year and he put himself in position to be considered for a day like this.”
Tong isn’t the only young arm getting a chance this month. Nolan McLean has already made two strong big-league starts, allowing two runs in 12 2/3 innings. The Mets are carving out a sixth rotation slot for Tong this week, enabling them to push back David Peterson and Kodai Senga over the weekend in Miami. Whether Tong will receive a second start or a longer look remains to be seen, as Stearns noted, “We’re going turn by turn at this point. We try not to plan too far ahead.”
The Mets entered play with a playoff push in mind while also trying to assemble the best possible roster for September. After leading the majors in rotation ERA through late May, New York’s rotation hit rough patches over the summer as Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas — who missed the first half of the season — have struggled since returning (Montas is done for the year with a UCL injury). Kodai Senga’s latest start was another abbreviated outing, and he hasn’t resembled the ace he flashed earlier this season.
The ascent of Tong offers a glimmer of upside in a Mets rotation that could use multiple high-ceiling options. Mendoza’s comment that “there’s only one way to find out” underscored the team’s willingness to ride the hot hand when a prospect shows advanced command and stuff.
Tong, a native of Ontario, Canada, was a seventh-round pick by the Mets in 2022 after spending his senior year at Georgia Premier Academy. He began 2023 slowly but has surged through the minor-league ladder in 2024 and into 2025, pitching at three levels in 2024 and two levels this season.
The Athletic’s Keith Law initially did not include Tong in his preseason top 100, but later moved him to No. 52. Law noted Tong’s delivery is over the top, which he doesn’t typically favor, but praised his athleticism and a live
fastball that has reached 98 mph, along with a 12-to-6 curveball and a changeup that have all improved this year. Law added that batters rarely see Tong’s ball coming out of his hand.
What to watch for with Tong:
– Immediate impact: Can the 98 mph fastball and average-to-plus secondary offerings translate to big-league success in a limited showcase?
– Big-picture look: If Tong proves ready, could his presence help stabilize a rotation in flux as September approaches?
– Development trajectory: How Tong adapts to hitters at the major-league level and how closely the Mets monitor innings and efficiency in his first big-league exposure.
Summary: Tong’s promotion embodies the Mets’ emphasis on rewarding performance with opportunity, and his highly ranked prospect status, plus a documented mid-season surge, gives New York a data point to assess in real time as it eyes a playoff push. If Tong continues to perform at a high level, he could become a meaningful piece in the Mets’ long-term rotation plans.