Canadians Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.) and Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, B.C.) have been named the top pitching prospects for the New York Mets and Cleveland Guardians respectively by MLB Pipeline. Photos: St. Lucie Mets and Lake County Captains/Twitter

October 18, 2024

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Canadians Jonah Tong and Matt Wilkinson have been named the top pitching prospects for the New York Mets and Cleveland Guardians respectively by MLB Pipeline.

MLB Pipeline unveiled their annual list of the top hitting and pitching prospects from each major league team on Thursday.

Tong (Markham, Ont.), a Toronto Mets grad, posted a combined 6-4 record with a 3.03 ERA in 25 appearances (23 starts), while striking out 160 batters in 113 innings, between class-A, High-A and double-A in the Mets’ organization. For his efforts, he was a two-time Canadian Baseball Network Player of the Week.

The 6-foot-1 right-hander was selected in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB draft by the Mets. After struggling in his first season in pro ball in 2023, he climbed three levels in the Mets’ system in 2024.

MLB Pipeline points out that the 21-year-old Tong’s 3.03 ERA topped Mets’ minor league starters and the Canadian righty also finished third among minor league full-season pitchers with a 34.2 percent K rate.

Wilkinson (Ladner, B.C.), an Okotoks Dawgs grad, was equally dominant in the Guardians’ organization. In 24 starts between class-A and High-A, he went 8-6 with a 1.90 ERA and fanned 174 in 118 2/3 innings. He also posted a 2.19 ERA in two post-season starts for the High-A Lake County Captains to help lead them to a Midwest League championship. His performance earned him the Carolina League Pitcher of the Month for April and the Canadian Baseball Network Player of the Week three times.

Nicknamed “Tugboat,” the 6-foot-1, 270-pound southpaw was chosen in the 10th round of the 2023 MLB draft by the Guardians after he was named national junior college pitcher of the year following his outstanding season at Central Arizona Community College.

MLB Pipeline notes that the 21-year-old lefty led all minor league pitchers with a 38 percent K rate. Wilkinson also ranked second among qualified minor league starting pitchers in ERA, strikeouts, batting average against (.169) and WHIP (0.91).

Tong, Wilkinson earn top prospect honours from MLB Pipeline