Toronto Mets grad RHP Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.) pitched six hitless innings for the New York Mets’ double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies to earn CBN honours for the first week of September.

October 1, 2024

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

Right-hander Jonah Tong has been named the Canadian Baseball Network’s minor league player of the week for his strong start in the first week of September.

It’s the second time Tong (Markham, Ont.) has won the award this season.

With the minor league season winding down, Tong was in tough competition with fellow starter Matt Duffy (Burlington, Ont.) for the honour but his six no-hit innings for the New York Mets’ double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies were too impressive to overlook.

On September 5, Tong got the start against the Somerset Pirates (New York Yankees’ affiliate). Pitching under the bright lights of a home crowd of 2,599 at Mirabito Stadium, Tong got to work quickly against Spencer Jones, one of the top prospects in the game. Tong sent the prized outfielder back to the dugout on five pitches – catching the outside part of the black for his first strikeout. Tong then got a fly out for the second out and made quick work of the No. 3 hitter, using just three pitches for his second strikeout of the game.

The second inning was less exciting for the Toronto Mets alum. He needed just 11 pitches to register two ground outs and a pop-out to second.

The right-hander got right back to work in the top of the third, recording two more ground outs. Pitching to the No. 9 hitter, Tong generated his first swinging strikeout of the day – a low offering down and out of the strike zone for his third K.

Facing the minimum nine through three innings, Tong started the top of the fourth against Jones again and was able to set down the Yankees prospect via a swinging strikeout – with two of the strikes being missed swings on offerings down and out of the zone. Tong got another strikeout and a fly ball to centre to finish the inning.

Entering the top of the fifth with a perfect game bid on the line, Tong continued to mow down Patriots batters. He got a ground out to first and then needed only nine pitches to strike out the next two batters.

The top of the sixth started similar to the others, with a ground out to second and a strikeout on six pitches. But a throwing error by Rumble Ponies shortstop Jeremiah Jackson, after a fielding a ground ball hit to him, would end Tong’s perfect game bid (although the no-hitter was still alive). A stolen base put a runner in scoring position. With Jones up, Tong did what he does best – collecting his ninth strikeout of the game.

The no-hit bid would have to wait another day, as Tong was lifted in the top of the seventh inning after 77 pitches. With a long season coming to an end, the Rumble Ponies lifted the Canuck right-hander in favour of the bullpen. The collective no-hit effort hit was ended in the eighth with a single up the middle.

In all, in his second last start of the season, Tong pitched six innings and allowed just one base runner. He struck out nine batters and posted a 66.2% strike rate. It was the sixth time he has gone six or more innings this season and the fifth outing where he pitched that deep and allowed one earned run or fewer.

Former Winners

Opening Day to May 6 – LHP Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, BC), Guardians.

May 7- May 12 – INF Charles LeBlanc (Laval, Que.), Angels.

May 13- May 19 – RHP Adam Maier (North Vancouver, BC), Braves.

May 20- May 26 – INF Trei Cruz (Toronto, Ont.), Tigers.

May 27 – June 2 – RHP Lucas Wepf (Georgetown, Ont.), Dodgers.

June 3 – June 9 – C/DH Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.), Rangers.

June 10 – June 16 – OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.), Athletics.

June 17 – June 23 – OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.), Athletics.

June 24 – June 30 – RHP Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.), Mets.

July 1 – July 7 – OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.), Athletics.

July 8 – July 14 – LHP Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, BC), Guardians.

July 15 – July 21 – OF Jordan Nwogu (Ottawa, Ont.), Cubs

July 22 – July 28 – LHP Mitch Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.), Rangers

July 29 – Aug. 4 – LHP Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, BC), Guardians.

Aug. 5 – Aug. 11 – RHP Matt Duffy (Toronto, Ont.), Red Sox.

Aug. 12 – Aug. 18 – LHP Kyle Carr (San Marcos, Calif.), Yankees.

Aug. 19 – Aug. 25 – C Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.), Tigers.

Aug. 26 – Sept. 1 – RF Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.), Cubs.

Sept. 2 – Sept. 8 – RHP Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.), Mets.