Liputan6.com, Jakarta The New York Mets officially announced the call-up of their top pitching prospect, Jonah Tong, to Major League Baseball (MLB) on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.
This decision comes after Tong's dominant performance in the minor leagues, which established him as one of the most promising pitchers.
He is scheduled to make his debut as a starter on Friday, August 29, 2025, against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza even stated that Tong is "hard to keep out there" due to his dominance in the minor leagues.
Tong, who was born in Markham, Ontario, Canada, on June 19, 2003, has attracted attention since he was selected by the New York Mets in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft.
Standing at 6 feet 1 inches tall and weighing 185 pounds, Jonah Tong is known for his unique right-handed throwing style and lethal pitch arsenal.
Jonah Tong Profile
Jonah Reid Tin Chee Matthew Tong, better known as Jonah Tong, is a right-handed pitcher born in Markham, Ontario, Canada.
He stands 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) tall and weighs 180 pounds (81 kg).
Tong was selected by the New York Mets in the seventh round (209th overall) of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Bill Crothers Secondary School and Georgia Premier Academy.
MLB Pipeline ranked him the 44th best prospect in baseball, while Baseball America ranked him 42nd overall and ESPN even ranked him 21st on their updated list of the top 100 prospects.
Jonah Tong's playing style has often been compared to baseball legend Tim Lincecum, particularly due to his deceptive, over-the-top delivery and strong extension.
While his delivery isn't as powerful as Lincecum's, Tong possesses a strong pitch arsenal, with fastball averages 91-94 mph, but plays well above that with elite induced vertical break.
He also possesses a 74-76 mph curveball, an 82-84 mph slider, and an effective 84-86 mph changeup.
Major League Baseball Call by Mets
The New York Mets officially announced the call-up of Jonah Tong to Major League Baseball (MLB) on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.
The call-up was based on Tong's dominant performance in the minor leagues, where he led the entire minor leagues in strikeouts and ERA.
The team's need for additional starters was also a significant factor, given that the Mets' rotation was struggling with injuries and declining performance from several veteran pitchers.
Tong's MLB debut is scheduled for Friday, August 29, 2025, as a starter against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field.
Mets management is very optimistic about Jonah Tong's potential. Manager Carlos Mendoza stated that Tong dominated in the minor leagues and that "it's hard to keep him there."
Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns also admitted that the call-up was "quick" but that Tong "pushed us for this because of his performance."
Impressive Performance and Statistics
Jonah Tong began the 2025 season with the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies, where he delivered a stellar performance.
He posted a 1.43 ERA with 179 strikeouts in 113.5 innings pitched mostly in Double-A.
These 179 strikeouts led the entire minor leagues, 32 more than any other pitcher, and his 40.5% strikeout rate was the highest among 154 minor leaguers with at least 100 innings pitched.
Thanks to his dominance, Tong was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse on August 11, 2025.
Despite only making two appearances at Triple-A, he still delivered an outstanding performance.
In those two starts, Jonah Tong pitched 11.5 innings with no earned runs, recorded 17 strikeouts, and only walked three.
These impressive statistics precipitated his call-up to the Major League Baseball, ahead of other prospects who may have had more experience at that level.
Jonah Tong's recall allows the Mets to switch to a six-man rotation for a 16-game season with no days off.