Tong, Benge Tapped for Futures Game
Mets prospects RHP Jonah Tong and OF Carson Benge were among the 50 prospects picked to play in the Futures Game on July 12 at Truist Park in Atlanta, MLB announced Monday.
Tong, 22, a seventh-round pick in the 2022 draft out of Bill Crothers (Ontario, Canada) SS, has struck out 14.2 batters per nine innings for the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies. He leads the Eastern League in ERA (1.73), WHIP (0.92) and strikeouts (115). He’s 6-3 in 14 starts, going 73 innings.
Tong set down 20 consecutive batters and struck out 13 in a combined perfect game on May 10. He was one out away from finishing the game, which was a seven-inning contest because it was part of a doubleheader.
Benge, 22, was a first-round pick last year (19th overall) from Oklahoma State. He started the season at High-A Brooklyn, where he hit .302/.417/.480 with four homers, 37 RBIs and 15 steals before his promotion in June to Binghamton.
In five games with the Rumble Ponies, the outfielder has gone 4-for-16 with a double, five walks and two stolen bases. Benge has made 33 starts in center field, 16 in right field, and 10 in left field.
According to MLB Pipeline, Benge is the Mets’ third overall prospect, and Tong is their fourth. On their Top 100 Prospect List, Benge is listed as the 81st-best prospect in MLB, while Tong is regarded as the 92nd-best prospect.
The game will pit National League prospects against their American League counterparts. It will take place at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 12 during All-Star weekend festivities. The MLB Draft takes place on Sunday, July 13 in Atlanta.
The post Tong, Benge Tapped for Futures Game appeared first on Metsmerized Online.