The New York Mets are once more relying on a rookie pitcher in their quest for a playoff slot. Two weeks after elevating Nolan McLean to the major leagues, the Mets will feature another young right-handed pitcher on Friday night when Jonah Tong takes the mound against the Miami Marlins.
Tong, who is 22 years old, was a former seventh-round selection and has made only two starts in Triple-A this season following McLean’s ascent to The Show. Earlier this spring, CBS Sports labeled him as a minor-league standout candidate. Since then, he has confirmed that claim, posting a 1.43 ERA and fanning over 40% of the hitters he faced in 22 starts split across the upper minor leagues.
«This is swift,» Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns stated earlier this week. «There’s no doubt this is swift. He has compelled us on this due to his performance. We believe he is ready for this. We also recognize that this has progressed faster than any of us would have expected at the beginning of this year.»
Here’s what you should be aware of regarding Tong before his major league debut. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET at Citi Field and will be available for live streaming on Fubo (try for free).
1. Unique delivery
Even if you don’t know Tong particularly well, you shouldn’t have much difficulty recognizing him from a distance once you observe his mechanics a few times.
When the bases are clear, Tong utilizes a hybrid method that starts with a more conventional windup stance. He then transitions into almost a rocker step, closing his front foot and gathering himself before truly initiating his pitch. Picture something akin to what David Price used to perform. Tong then gets deep into his back hip. All of this, combined with a high front side, gives him the illusion of pitching uphill. From there, he drives down the mound while adjusting his head and spine to create room for his arm to whip through.
Ball-tracking metrics help to clarify Tong’s release point. Although he stands at 6-foot-1, his mechanics allow him to release the ball from beyond 6 feet, 8 inches from the pitching rubber. Reaching far down the slope also results in a sub-6-foot release height, creating an unconventional visual.
Much of pitching revolves around creating unusual angles that deceive the opponent’s optical processing unit. Tong possesses that aspect, among others, working in his favor.
2. Powerful fastball
Tong isn’t solely a master of illusions, however. He possesses a powerful fastball that averaged 95.8 mph and peaked at 98 mph during his Triple-A outings. The standout feature of his heater is the natural lift he achieves on the pitch: over 18 inches of induced vertical break, to be precise.
For perspective on how distinctive Tong’s mix of release metrics and fastball rise is, here’s a complete roster of big-league right-handed pitchers (minimum 50 batters faced this season) who satisfy the following criteria: at least 18 inches of IVB; a release height no taller than 6 feet; and an extension point between 6 feet, 7 inches and 7 feet:
Diverging from the standard is often beneficial — whether in velocity, movement, or release point. Unsurprisingly, Tong has found considerable success with his fastball, achieving a 41% whiff rate in Triple-A. Although that’s a limited sample size, there’s ample reason to believe that his fastball will remain an asset based on its inherent characteristics and his own.
3. Additional refinement required
The Mets might hope that Tong can perform as successfully right away as McLean has, but be cautioned that there’s a genuine chance he may encounter some growing pains until he enhances his command and the depth of his pitching arsenal.
Tong’s previously mentioned mechanics often position his arm low at foot strike. The upper-body adjustments also leave him looking towards the first-base dugout. This combination could restrict his long-term command prospects. At the very least, it clarifies why he has issued walks to over 10.6% of the hitters he has faced this season, which would rank as the second-highest rate among qualified major-league starters, trailing behind Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams.
How Tong utilizes and locates his non-fastball pitches will also be intriguing — and could significantly influence his efficiency. He has three non-fastball pitches: a mid-80s changeup and slider, and an upper-70s curveball. The changeup was often too high in the zone during his tenure in Triple-A, and both his breaking pitches garnered what would be considered subpar chase rates. (Keep in mind, once again, the limited nature of those observations.)
It speaks volumes about Tong’s fastball quality and deception that the Mets are comfortable deploying him in the intensity of a playoff race. It’s not catastrophic if he struggles with consistency, either. He’s only 22 years old, and often, resistance is the best instructor. There’s a genuine pathway for him to become a plus major-league starter, and that journey commences tonight.
