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\ud83d\udea8 JONAH TONG’S ROOKIE STRUGGLES: SHOULD THE METS ALTER HIS PITCHING REPERTOIRE?<\/strong> \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n The New York Mets<\/strong> are dealing with a growing debate over the development of Jonah Tong<\/strong>, their No. 48-ranked<\/strong> prospect by MLB Pipeline<\/strong>, after his rough start to his MLB career<\/strong> in 2025. Despite a strong minor league campaign, Tong struggled at the major league level<\/strong> last season, posting a 7.71 ERA<\/strong> over 18.2 innings<\/strong> in five starts<\/strong>, with 22 strikeouts<\/strong> in September.<\/p>\n At just 22 years old<\/strong>, Tong showed a lot of promise coming through the minors, but his MLB debut<\/strong> left more questions than answers. So what went wrong, and what\u2019s next for the young Canadian pitcher<\/strong>?<\/p>\n In his short time with the Mets<\/strong> last season, Tong’s performance wasn\u2019t what the team expected after his dominant minor league showing<\/strong>. His fastball was his go-to pitch, with a high release point<\/strong> (standing at 6’1″<\/strong>), which allowed for an impressive 19.8 inches of vertical break<\/strong>\u2014a major strikeout weapon. His secondary pitches\u2014particularly the changeup<\/strong> and curveball<\/strong>\u2014served as complimentary tools, but it was clear that he couldn\u2019t fully find his rhythm in the MLB rotation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Despite his struggles, former Mets player Jerry Blevins<\/strong> believes that the 2025 season was just a \u201cblip on the radar<\/strong>\u201d for the young pitcher. “He\u2019s 22… I think it was just a \u2018happy to be here,\u2019 deer-in-the-headlights moment,” Blevins said, suggesting that Tong\u2019s nerves<\/strong> played a role in his struggles, rather than a deeper issue with his potential.<\/p>\n Blevins added that Tong’s mechanics<\/strong>\u2014specifically his high release point<\/strong>\u2014are part of what made him so effective in the minors. Altering his pitching repertoire could disrupt his natural movement and hurt his best asset: his fastball\u2019s rise. Blevins is against changing too much about Tong\u2019s pitching style, especially since he\u2019s had success with what he has<\/strong>.<\/p>\n There has been growing chatter<\/strong> about the Mets’ plans<\/strong> to develop a sweeper<\/strong> for Tong. According to Keith Law<\/strong> of The Athletic, the Mets are reportedly looking to add a sweeper<\/strong> to his arsenal, which would require significant changes to his mechanics. But this is where Blevins voiced concern.<\/p>\n “I really don\u2019t like them messing with his repertoire, especially trying to get a guy with such a high release point,\u201d Blevins explained. He believes that adding a sweeper<\/strong> or vertical-moving slider<\/strong> could lead to significant changes in Tong\u2019s mechanics, potentially disrupting the effectiveness of his fastball<\/strong>.<\/p>\n While the Mets may see the addition of a sweeper<\/strong> as a way to diversify Tong’s pitching arsenal, Blevins argues that Tong’s current repertoire<\/strong>\u2014which includes his fastball, changeup, curveball, and slider\u2014is already strong and effective. The question is whether the Mets should focus on refining these pitches instead of trying to rework his entire delivery.<\/p>\n Instead of altering his entire pitching approach, Blevins suggests that the Mets should focus on improving Tong\u2019s changeup<\/strong>, which is his secondary pitch. Modeled after Tim Lincecum’s changeup<\/strong>, Tong\u2019s offering sits in the mid-80s velocity range<\/strong>, but consistency<\/strong> in release point is key. If Tong can dial in his changeup<\/strong> and create more trust in his secondary pitches<\/strong>, he\u2019ll be able to keep hitters off-balance while continuing to rely on his fastball’s impressive rise.<\/p>\n \u201cLet the kid pitch. Let him figure out how to be effective,\u201d Blevins emphasized. This advice aligns with the sentiment that Tong\u2019s success is more about trusting his natural abilities and making small adjustments rather than major overhauls.<\/p>\n Despite his MLB struggles<\/strong>, Tong’s minor league numbers<\/strong> have been exceptional<\/strong>. In 2024<\/strong>, he posted a 3.03 ERA<\/strong> across 113 innings<\/strong> in three different minor league levels<\/strong>, impressing scouts with a 34.2% strikeout rate<\/strong>. His numbers only improved in 2025<\/strong>, where he went 10-5<\/strong> with a remarkable 1.43 ERA<\/strong> for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies<\/strong> and Syracuse Mets<\/strong>, earning significant attention as one of the top pitching prospects<\/strong> in the organization.<\/p>\n With his potential, Tong<\/strong> is still seen as a promising arm for the Mets’ future<\/strong>, but the next steps in his development will be crucial. The Mets\u2019 decision on whether to tinker with his mechanics<\/strong> or refine his existing repertoire will have a significant impact on his future in the big leagues.<\/p>\n The Mets<\/strong> are in a delicate position with Jonah Tong<\/strong>. With the success of other prospects rising through the ranks and the potential to develop a dynamic pitching staff, Tong’s future<\/strong> could either be a product of patience<\/strong> or an opportunity for adjustment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Given his youth and impressive history, the Mets<\/strong> may need to approach Tong’s development with careful strategy<\/strong>. Keeping his mechanics intact while honing his secondary pitches could help him become a more well-rounded pitcher in the near future. Alternatively, pushing him to adopt a sweeper<\/strong> could derail his natural talent, and with his potential, it\u2019s a gamble the Mets shouldn\u2019t take lightly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \ud83d\udea8 JONAH TONG’S ROOKIE STRUGGLES: SHOULD THE METS ALTER HIS PITCHING REPERTOIRE? \ud83d\udc47 The New York Mets are dealing with a growing debate over the development of… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":149167,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-149163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nTong’s Struggles: A Blip or a Sign of Bigger Issues?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\nShould the Mets Tinker with Tong\u2019s Repertoire?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nWhere Should the Mets Focus in Tong\u2019s Development?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\nTong’s Rise and Potential: The Road Ahead<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nThe Mets’ Long-Term Plan: Patience or Progress?<\/strong><\/h3>\n