The New York Mets’ No. 4-ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline, Jonah Tong, is turning heads in the organization and the minor leagues.
A right-handed pitcher, Tong, 21, was named the Double-A Eastern League Pitcher of the Month for his performances on the mound in May. He allowed just four earned runs in 26.2 innings and struck out 42 with Double-A Binghamton.
On May 10 against Reading, the Double-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, Tong struck out a career-high 13 batters in 6 2/3 flawless innings in game two of a seven-inning doubleheader. Leading 6-0, relief pitcher JT Shook entered the game with two outs in the seventh inning and recorded the final out for the first perfect game in Binghamton’s history.
“Couldn’t have had a better day, especially before Mother’s Day,” Tong told MLB.com’s Brendan Samson after the combined perfect game. “I’m going to dedicate that to my mom.”
Yesterday, the Georgia Premier Academy product and Markham, Ontario, Canada-native made his first start of June, throwing five no-hit innings with 11 strikeouts against the Somerset Patriots, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. He retired the final 11 batters he faced in the 4-3 win, and now has a 2.02 ERA in 10 starts (49 innings) with Binghamton this season.
Tong’s favorite pitch to throw is his four-seam fastball, and he told Samson that his over-the-top arm slot creates a unique cutting action.
“I don’t really understand how it does its thing, but I just know it’s always been my go-to and I just have a lot of conviction trust behind it,” Tong said.
MLB Pipeline projects Tong to make his Major League Baseball debut in 2026. Only 24-year-old right-hander Brandon Sproat (No. 2) ranks ahead of him among the Mets’ pitching prospects.
Graphic: Jonah Tong was drafted by the Mets out of North Dakota State University. (Graphic courtesy of NDSU)
