Shushkewich: Tong gets feet wet, so do his Mets FCL teammates

Former Toronto Mets RHP Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.) made his pro debut on the weekend with the FCL Mets in West Palm.

July 4, 2023

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

Right-hander Jonah Tong made his pro debut this past Friday, making the start for the Florida Complex League Mets in Rookie ball facing the FCL Astros at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach.

The game did not start on time as there was lightning in the area, with the game eventually called in the third inning due to the weather. It will be completed at a later date.

A product of the Toronto Mets program, Tong (Markham, Ont.) faced four batters through 2/3 of an inning, allowing two hits and one earned run while striking out two batters generating six swings and misses on the day.

To start the game, Tong struck out lead-off hitter Alejandro Nunez and two-hole hitter Tyler Whitaker, getting both to strike out swinging.

The next two batters would get on base via a line drive single and a ground ball back to the pitcher before Tong was lifted for Ernesto Mercedes, with both runners on base tied to the Canuck.

Mercedes allowed a single to the first batter he faced, scoring the Astro on second with the run getting charged to Tong before Astros batter Kenni Gomez popped out to the third baseman to end the inning.

Through 17 pitches, Tong threw eight strikes in the outing (47%) and sat in the low to mid-90s with his fastball while using his high-spin 12-6 curveball to generate swings, with at least one of the strikeouts coming on an off-speed pitch.

With a 3/4 arm slot and a repeatable delivery, Tong uses his fastball and curveball to keep hitters off balance, with the curve being clocked at RPM measurements as high as 2800. His fastball also has some solid movement, as the 6-foot-1 Canuck extends well down the mound toward home plate.

He compliments these two pitches with a change up, which he continues to develop.

Selected by the New York Mets in the seventh round of the draft last year, Tong signed for $226,000 US and didn’t appear in any affiliated ball after the draft, spending time at the Mets’ development complex to finish out the year throwing bullpens and live batting practice sessions under the guise of the Mets staff.

Speaking to Kevin Glew at the Canadian Baseball Network at the end of last season, Tong decided to spurn a commitment to North Dakota State University to turn pro with the Mets, saying, “It was a really hard decision, and it was almost one of those where you had to weigh it out 50/50 because I love school … School was something I was very passionate about.”

Leading up to the draft, Tong pitched with the Langley Blaze for a short stint in Arizona before joining Georgia Premier Academy for a couple of months, where LHP Mitch Bratt pitched. Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.) is currently pitching in the Texas Rangers organization.

Following his time in Georgia, Tong turned to the MLB Draft League where he appeared in four games (three starts) for the Frederick Keys, facing opponents roughly three to four years his senior.

With his first start under his belt, Jonah Tong is officially a pro player, with more outings in the FCL likely on the horizon for the 20-year-old.

Should he continue to impress, a trip to class-A St. Lucie could be on the horizon before the season comes to a close.