It doesn’t sound like the Mets are ready to pull the trigger on bringing back Jonah Tong. That doesn’t mean he won’t be back in Queens at some point in September, however.
Tong has pitched better of late for Triple-A Syracuse, and No. 5 starter Robert Stock is coming off a dreadful outing Wednesday in which he was tagged for 10 hits and seven runs across four shaky innings.
“Without being fully committed, I think our anticipation is that he’ll get the ball next time around,” interim manager Andy Green said before the Mets lost the series finale to the Brewers 8-2 at Citi Field on Thursday night. “We’ll continue to watch what happens around our system as well. I think right now that’s kind of where we’re headed.”
Tong has pitched to a 2.65 ERA over his past seven outings, a major step in the right direction after a disappointing season for the young right-hander up until that point. He went 5 ²/₃ scoreless innings in his last appearance Saturday against Worcester, allowing just three hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
New York Mets Pitcher Jonah Tong (21) throws in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during Spring Training at Clover Field, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Port St. Lucie, FL. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“He’s at his best when he’s filling up the strike zone, getting ahead in the count. It’s not some secret sauce recipe,” Green said. “His stuff has always been really, really good. When he’s got velo, when he fills up the strike zone, he’s good and he’s done that more consistently recently. So we’re encouraged by that.”
The Mets hope Tong is a part of their future, while the 36-year-old Stock is merely a placeholder, and one with a 7.40 ERA. In five starts, he has failed to record an out in the sixth inning. Stock has been noncompetitive in two of those starts.
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Tong, 23, has yet to find himself at the big league level, failing to reach expectations as a top prospect. In five starts last year, Tong pitched to a 7.71 ERA.
He was better in three starts this season, notching a 3.60 ERA, but only logged a combined 10 innings and registered a sky-high 1.50 WHIP.
New York Mets pitcher Jonah Tong reacts as he walks back to the dugout after being pulled from the game in the fifth inning during a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at Citi Field. Jason Szenes for The New York Post
The Mets want to make sure he’s ready the next time he gets the call.
“We’ll continue to keep an eye on him, continue to watch, continue to see how he performs,” Green said. “Definitely somebody we think highly of and excited when the time comes.
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“Jonah has had outings where you’re greatly encouraged about his short-term major league availability, and he’s had outings where you’re like, let’s give it a minute longer.”
In a perfect world, Tong continues to perform for Syracuse and earns a promotion to make a few September starts for the playing-out-the-string Mets. A few quality outings at the big league level could be significant for him.
“If he’s in a spot where he’s throwing the ball well, [if] he gives us the best chance to win a baseball game, then he feels really good about being here and getting those opportunities, that’s probably how we look at it,” Green said. “Just give him an opportunity to pitch when he’s really ready for the opportunity to pitch. I’d love to see it, but we don’t have anything committed to it yet.”