Jonah Tong pitched five scoreless innings for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets against Rochester on Thursday night.
It was a relatively easy night for Tong, who scattered every baserunner against him. The only inning where Rochester threatened to score was in the fourth when Tong gave up a leadoff double. Tong bounced back to strike out the next three batters.
The 97.9 mph speed Tong reached is notable, but the right-hander's performance was just as impressive as his top velocity. Of his 89 pitches (56 strikes) thrown, Tong generated 14 swing and misses.
Tong's recent form is starting to catch attention. Over his last six starts, he's pitched to a 3.52 ERA with 32 strikeouts across 30.2 innings. However, his ERA in the minors this season still sits at 5.59, a reflection of the struggles he's faced this season.
One area Tong has struggled with is his walks allowed. He's walked at least two in his last seven starts, with four in his previous outing. However, on Thursday, he dropped that number to two, a welcome improvement.
The Mets' upcoming trade deadline may bring opportunities for Tong to make the jump to the big leagues. With a strong performance in Syracuse, he could be in the mix to fill a starting rotation spot.
Tong's improvement on the mound will be closely watched in the coming weeks. If he continues to pitch effectively in the minors, he could soon find himself in the spotlight at Citi Field.
Source: Yahoo Sports