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Although the Mets are on a tear since the trade deadline, interim manager Andy Green and the organization are using the last couple of months of the season to evaluate young players to see if they can help the team in 2027.
While the bullpen has been remade with arms from the farm system, one notable name that has not made his way back to the Mets is Jonah Tong.
The former top prospect has had an up-and-down season in Triple-A. But many believe Tong and the Mets would be better served if the right-hander hones his craft in the majors.
Green was asked about Tong ahead of Tuesday's game with the Braves and what he's seen from him.
"Two starts ago, he was great," Green said. "Fastball shape that we get really excited about. A really good curveball. His changeup was back to being a plus pitch for him. Next outing, his first three innings were great. Was encouraged by what he did. Ran through a weird set of circumstances where three different pitches got hit out of the park, which is pretty rare. He bounced back, had a respectable outing.
"We know how good he is, want to see him fill up the strike zone, want to see the kind of arsenal that when you look at him, that will get him deep or deeper into a game. He just needs to go out and pitch. Not worry about where he is and go dominate."
Tong tossed five scoreless innings two starts ago before he let up five home runs his last time out.
Those two starts are indicative of Tong's season. In 19 starts, Tong has pitched to a 5.46 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. He's still striking out a ton of batters, 103 in 85.2 innings, but he's walked more batters this season (49) than last (47) in far fewer innings.
Tong did make three appearances for the Mets earlier this season and struggled. He allowed six runs (four earned) on eight hits and seven walks in his 10 innings of work.
Before his five-home run game, Tong was pitching much better. In July, he pitched to a 3.65 ERA, with three of his five starts allowing two or fewer runs.
So what do Green and the Mets need to see for Tong to get the call-up? Is it the metrics, results or both? Green gave his take on the situation.
"We want to see ingredients that we believe will succeed on the field here," he said. "We want to put him in a place where he can be successful when he comes back. It’s always hard in the major leagues. We think he has the stuff to pitch here. We want to see more stuff on the backside where we feel that can play. When we feel that way, we’ll be excited when he comes."
Green confirmed that Robert Stock will make his next start through the rotation, so Tong's next start is likely in Triple-A. But if Stock struggles again and Tong shows improvement and consistency, the next turn through the rotation could see a new face.
Continue reading...
While the bullpen has been remade with arms from the farm system, one notable name that has not made his way back to the Mets is Jonah Tong.
The former top prospect has had an up-and-down season in Triple-A. But many believe Tong and the Mets would be better served if the right-hander hones his craft in the majors.
Green was asked about Tong ahead of Tuesday's game with the Braves and what he's seen from him.
"Two starts ago, he was great," Green said. "Fastball shape that we get really excited about. A really good curveball. His changeup was back to being a plus pitch for him. Next outing, his first three innings were great. Was encouraged by what he did. Ran through a weird set of circumstances where three different pitches got hit out of the park, which is pretty rare. He bounced back, had a respectable outing.
"We know how good he is, want to see him fill up the strike zone, want to see the kind of arsenal that when you look at him, that will get him deep or deeper into a game. He just needs to go out and pitch. Not worry about where he is and go dominate."
Tong tossed five scoreless innings two starts ago before he let up five home runs his last time out.
Those two starts are indicative of Tong's season. In 19 starts, Tong has pitched to a 5.46 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. He's still striking out a ton of batters, 103 in 85.2 innings, but he's walked more batters this season (49) than last (47) in far fewer innings.
Tong did make three appearances for the Mets earlier this season and struggled. He allowed six runs (four earned) on eight hits and seven walks in his 10 innings of work.
Before his five-home run game, Tong was pitching much better. In July, he pitched to a 3.65 ERA, with three of his five starts allowing two or fewer runs.
So what do Green and the Mets need to see for Tong to get the call-up? Is it the metrics, results or both? Green gave his take on the situation.
"We want to see ingredients that we believe will succeed on the field here," he said. "We want to put him in a place where he can be successful when he comes back. It’s always hard in the major leagues. We think he has the stuff to pitch here. We want to see more stuff on the backside where we feel that can play. When we feel that way, we’ll be excited when he comes."
Green confirmed that Robert Stock will make his next start through the rotation, so Tong's next start is likely in Triple-A. But if Stock struggles again and Tong shows improvement and consistency, the next turn through the rotation could see a new face.
Continue reading...
