Mets Minors Recap: Jonah Tong Turns In Yet Another Elite Outing

Jonah Tong continues to make a strong case to be regarded as baseball’s top pitching prospect. Saturday, Tong turned in another elite outing, tossing 7 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. In his sixth win of the season, Tong struck out 11, walked only one, and allowed just two hits. He led Double-A by generating 22 swing and misses. His season ERA now sits at 1.75, while his 107 strikeouts on the season leads of all minor league baseball.

Meanwhile, both Brooks Raley (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 SO) and Mark Vientos (0-for-3) continued their respective rehab assignments.

Triple-A

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 4 (47-27), Syracuse Mets 2 (30-44)

Box Score

• DH Mark Vientos: 0-for-3 (.250 OPS)
• CF Drew Gilbert: 0-for-4 (.684 OPS)
• SS Yonny Hernández: 1-for-2, 2 BB, RBI (.806 OPS)

Mets’ third baseman, Mark Vientos, continued his rehab stint with Triple-A Syracuse, going 0-for-3. Saturday marked Vientos’ third rehab game, he is 1-for-12 thus far. Promising young prospect, Drew Gilbert, went 0-for-4, lowering his batting average to .218 and OPS to .684.

• RHP Nolan McLean: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO (2.68 ERA)
• RHP Dom Hamel: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO (4.78)

Much-like the aforementioned Tong, former two-way player, Nolan McLean, has broken out in a big way this season. He continued his strong season on Saturday, as he pitched five innings of two-run ball while striking out six. Across the Double-A and Triple-A levels this season, McLean has a 2.19 ERA in 70 total innings.

Double-A

Binghamton Ruble Ponies 5 (44-22), Harrisburg Senators 0 (34-34-)

Box Score

• CF Nick Morabito: 1-for-2, BB, 2 R, SB (.799 OPS)
• RF Omar De Los Santos: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBIs (.549 OPS)
• LF Ryan Clifford: 1-for-4, RBI, SB (.803 OPS)

In addition to driving in a run, speedster Nick Morabito stole his 27th base of the season. That is the second most in the Mets’ system. Acquired in the trade that sent Justin Verlander to Houston, Ryan Clifford drove in a run and stole a base of his own. He has his season OPS up to .803.

• RHP Jonah Tong: 7.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 SO (1.75 ERA)

There really is not much more to say about how brilliant Jonah Tong has been this season. With Saturday’s performance, Tong increased his season strikeouts total to 107, which leads minor league baseball, in only 67 innings. His WHIP sits at 0.91 and the opposition is hitting only .135 against him.

High-A

Aberdeen IronBirds 7 (25-42), Brooklyn Cyclones 3 (47-21)

Box Score

• CF Carson Benge: 2-for-3, 2 BB, SB (.897 OPS)
• DH A.J. Ewing: 2-for-3, 2 R, SB (.811 OPS)
• SS Jesus Baez: 1-for-5, RBI (.752 OPS)

Carson Benge is putting together a season that certainly has the Mets’ front office feeling grateful they made him the 19th-overall pick in 2024. Benge continued his success on Saturday, reaching base four times and swiping his 15th bag of the season. Outfielder A.J. Ewing also continued his strong year, reaching base twice, while stealing his 33rd High-A base of the year. He has 47 steals on the year overall, pacing the Mets’ minor-league system.

• RHP R.J. Gordon: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 3 SO (3.04 ERA)
• RHP Brian Metoyer: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO (0.93 ERA)
• RHP Raimon Gomez: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 SO (5.11 ERA)

Former Oregon Duck, R.J. Gordon, had a rare troublesome start, as he allowed six runs across only 3 2/3 innings. Only three of those runs were earned, so his ERA still sits at a very strong 3.04 on the season. 28-year old Brian Metoyer has only allowed two earned runs across 19 1/3 High-A innings this season (0.93 ERA).

Single-A

St. Lucie Mets 2 (36-31), Palm Beach Cardinals 0 (32-35)

Box Score

• 1B Trace Willhoite: 2-for-3, 2B (.848 OPS)
• RF Willy Fanas: 1-for-3 (.540 OPS)

The St. Lucie offense only needed three hits, from two different hitters, to notch a victory. Neither of the runs they scored were earned, as they came via a throwing error and wild pitch. Infielder Trace Willhoite continues an impressive season, as the former Lipscomb Bison had two of St. Lucie’s three hits, increasing his season OPS to .848. One of the underrated performers in the Mets’ system this season.

• LHP Brooks Raley: 1.0 IP, 1 H, o R, 2 SO (0.00 ERA)
• RHP Wellington Aracena: 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO (2.87 ERA)

Continuing his rehab, left-handed reliever Brooks Raley turned in another strong outing, striking out two and allowing only one hit in his one inning of work. Raley, coming off Tommy John surgery, has two scoreless, one-hit, two-strikeout outings thus far. Right-handed pitcher Wellington Aracena threw five innings of hitless ball prior to Raley’s entrance. The 20-year-old has impressed mightily this season, striking out 60 across 47 innings this season.

Florida Complex League

FCL Mets 8 (13-19), FCL Nationals 5 (19-14)

Box Score

• CF Edward Lantigua: 3-for-4, RBI (.657 OPS)
• 1B Randy Guzman: 1-for-4, HR, 2 R (.844 OPS)

20-year old Randy Guzman hit his fifth home run of the season Saturday. His .844 OPS is top 15 in the Florida Complex League.

• RHP Layonel Ovalles: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO (1.29 ERA)
• RHP Jose Guevara: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO (7.71 ERA)

Right-handed pitcher Layonel Ovalles was placed on the developmental list after struggling in 2 2/3 innings with High-A Brooklyn. He has seven innings of one-run ball under his belt in the Florida Complex league thus far.

Dominican Summer League

DSL Mets Blue 7 (4-10), DSL NYY Bombers 4 (6-8)

Box Score

• DH Justin Ramirez: 3-for-3, RBI, BB (.888 OPS)
• C Yovanny Rodriguez: 1-for-2, 2 BB, 2 R (1.271 OPS)
• 1B Vladi Guerrero: 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, 2B, 3B (.685 OPS)

20-year-old minor-league free agent, Justin Ramirez, has been stellar to start the DSL season. He is 12-for-39 with the same amount of walks as strikeouts.

• RHP Abner Meza: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 3 SO (2.89 ERA)
• RHP Leyvi Rodriguez: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO (3.38 ERA)

In his first professional season, 18-year-old Abner Meza has 9 1/3 innings of three-run ball under his belt.

DSL Mets Orange 2 (10-4), DSL Tigers 2 1 (6-9)

Box Score

• SS Elian Peña: 2-for-3, BB (.375 OPS)
• SS Diover De Aza: 2-for-3, HR, 2B, RBI (.983 OPS)

After a long hitless drought to begin his professional career, 17-year-old Elian Peña posted his first multi-hit performance on Saturday. He is now has hits in three of his last five games.

• RHP Henderson Hernandez: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO (4.35 ERA)
• LHP Pablo Medina: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 SO (0.93 ERA)

18-year-old Pablo Medina has started his professional career out strong, allowing only one run over his first 9 2/3 career innings.

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