Mets Option Top Pitching Prospect Jonah Tong to Minors

The 22-year-old right-hander struggled in his debut MLB season with the Mets.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 7:07pm

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The New York Mets have optioned pitching prospect Jonah Tong to their Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse. The 22-year-old right-hander was 2-3 with a 7.71 ERA in his debut MLB season with the Mets last year after a rapid rise through the minors.

Why it matters

Tong was considered one of the Mets' top pitching prospects after being selected in the 7th round of the 2022 MLB Draft. His demotion to the minors indicates the Mets feel he needs more development time before being a consistent contributor at the major league level.

The details

Tong, who was born and raised in Canada, made two Grapefruit League starts for the Mets this spring training. With his slight build and over-the-top delivery, Tong has drawn comparisons to former Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum, a two-time Cy Young Award winner.

  • Tong was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

The players

Jonah Tong

A 22-year-old right-handed pitching prospect in the Mets' organization who struggled in his MLB debut last season.

Tim Lincecum

A former MLB pitcher who won two Cy Young Awards and made four All-Star teams with the San Francisco Giants from 2007-2016.

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The takeaway

Tong's demotion to the minors shows the Mets want to take a cautious approach with their top pitching prospect, allowing him more time to develop his skills before returning to the major league roster.