The New York Mets are once more relying on a first-year pitcher as they aim for a postseason spot. Following Nolan McLean’s move to the big leagues two weeks ago, the Mets will give another young right-handed pitcher a chance, with Jonah Tong scheduled to start against the Miami Marlins on Friday evening.
Tong, aged 22, was selected in the seventh round of the draft and has only made a couple of appearances in Triple-A this season since McLean was called up. Earlier in the year, CBS Sports highlighted him as a potential breakout star in the minor leagues. He has since lived up to that expectation, achieving a 1.43 ERA and recording strikeouts in over 40% of his 22 starts across the higher levels of the minor leagues.
“This is happening quickly,” stated David Stearns, the Mets’ president of baseball operations, earlier in the week. “There’s no doubt about the speed of this. His performance has compelled us to make this decision. We believe he’s prepared for this opportunity. However, we also understand that this has progressed more rapidly than we initially anticipated at the beginning of the year.”
Here’s what you should know about Tong as he gets ready for his major league debut. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET at Citi Field and can be watched live on Fubo (available for a free trial).
1. Unique style
Even if Tong is unfamiliar to you, it shouldn’t be hard to recognize him from afar once you’ve seen his pitching style a few times.
When there aren’t any runners on base, Tong uses a mixed approach that starts with a more conventional windup stance. He then transitions into a sort of rocking motion, bringing his leading foot inward and pausing before starting his actual pitching motion. Picture something similar to what David Price used to do. Tong then deeply engages his rear hip. This, along with a high front side, gives the impression that he’s pitching upwards. From that point, he throws the ball far down the pitching mound while adjusting his head and spine to allow his arm to come through with force.
Data tracking the ball’s movement helps to understand Tong’s release point. Despite being listed at 6-foot-1, his technique lets him release the ball from a point more than 6 feet, 8 inches away from the pitching rubber. Also, extending far down the slope leads to a release height of less than 6 feet, which creates an unusual visual effect.
A significant part of pitching involves producing strange angles that deceive the opponent’s vision. Tong has this aspect, among others, working in his favor.
2. Impressive fastball
Tong isn’t just about creating illusions, though. He has a powerful fastball that averaged 95.8 mph and peaked at 98 mph during his Triple-A outings. The most notable feature of his fastball is the natural upward movement he creates on the pitch, with over 18 inches of induced vertical break.
To illustrate how unique Tong’s combination of release measurements and fastball rise is, here’s a comprehensive list of major league right-handed pitchers (with a minimum of 50 batters faced this season) who meet these criteria: at least 18 inches of IVB, a release height of no more than 6 feet, and an extension point between 6 feet, 7 inches and 7 feet:
Breaking away from the standard is usually beneficial, whether it’s in terms of velocity, movement, or release point. As expected, Tong has seen considerable success with his fastball, achieving a 41% whiff rate in Triple-A. While this is based on a limited number of instances, there’s every reason to expect his fastball to remain an effective tool due to his abilities and the pitch’s inherent qualities.
3. Room for Improvement
The Mets might be hoping that Tong can have the same immediate impact as McLean, but there’s a good chance he’ll face some challenges as he refines his control and develops his range of pitches.
Tong’s pitching mechanics often result in his arm being low when his foot lands. His upper body movements also cause him to look towards the first-base dugout. This combination could limit his long-term command potential. At the very least, it explains why he’s issued walks to over 10.6% of the batters he’s faced this season, which would be the second-highest rate among qualified major league starters, only surpassed by Gavin Williams of the Cleveland Guardians.
The way Tong utilizes and places his pitches other than his fastball will also be interesting to watch and could significantly improve his efficiency. He has three other pitches in his arsenal: a changeup and slider in the mid-80s mph range, and a curveball in the upper-70s mph range. His changeup was often high in the strike zone during his time in Triple-A, and both of his breaking balls had chase rates that would be considered below average. (Again, keep in mind that these observations are based on a small sample size.)
The fact that the Mets are comfortable using Tong in the middle of a playoff push speaks volumes about the quality and deceptive nature of his fastball. It’s not a disaster if he struggles with consistency, either. He’s only 22 years old, and challenges are often the best form of learning. He has a genuine opportunity to become a valuable major league starter, and that journey starts tonight.
