Mets Minors Recap: Tong’s Seven Strikeouts Lead Binghamton
Fresh off pitching a scoreless inning in the MLB Futures Game over All-Star Weekend, Jonah Tong went 5 1/3 innings, struck out seven, and gave up one unearned run in leading Double-A Binghamton to a 3-1 victory. Tong leads the minor leagues in strikeouts with 132 and the Eastern League in ERA (1.71), WHIP (0.92), and batting average against (.139). The last time he gave up more than two earned runs in a game was on April 16.
The Mets recently promoted four minor leaguers. RHP Jace Hampson moved up to Single-A, RHP Frank Elissalt to High-A, C Chris Suero to Double-A, and C Matt O’Neill to Triple-A.
Jonah Tong. Photo Credit: Matt Kipp
Triple-A
Syracuse Mets (44-49) 7, Norfolk Tides (37-52) 6, Suspended, Bottom 7
- C Francisco Alvarez, 1-for-4, HR (9), 2 RBI (20), 2 K (1.020 OPS)
- RF Gilberto Celestino, 2-for-3, HR (7), 2B, RBI (26), SB (6), 2 R, 2 BB (.768 OPS)
- LF José Azocar, 2-for-5, RBI (8), R, 3 K (.749 OPS)
That’s five home runs for Alvarez in his last four games. It could be his defense that’s keeping him from getting called up. He allowed his ninth passed ball in 21 minor league games at catcher since his demotion. The game was suspended because of bad weather and will be picked up in progress before Saturday’s regularly scheduled contest.
- RHP José Buttó (0.00 ERA) IP, 2 H, K
- RHP Nolan McLean (3.22 ERA) 3 2/3 IP, 4 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, HR
McLean’s worst outing of the season broke a string of nine straight appearances where he’d given up two earned runs or less.
Double-A
Binghamton Rumble Ponies (58-28) 3, New Hampshire Fisher Cats (35-53) 1
- SS Jett Williams, 2-for-4, 2B, SB (27), 3 R, BB, K (.897 OPS)
- RF-CF Carson Benge, 2-for-4, BB (.969 OPS)
- C Kevin Parada, 1-for-4, 2B, 3 K (.740 OPS)
Williams leads the Eastern League in OPS and doubles. Benge is 15-for-47 (.319) with two homers and three doubles in 14 games since being promoted to Binghamton.
- RHP Jonah Tong (1.71 ERA) 5 1/3 IP, 2 H, R, 2 BB, 7 K, W
- RHP Anthony Nunez (1.66 ERA) 1 1/3 IP, 3 K, SV
Nunez, 24, has struck out 35 in 21 2/3 innings since being promoted to Binghamton. He was drafted by the Padres as an infielder in 2019, released in 2021, and then pitched Division II college baseball before the Mets signed him last June.
High-A
Brooklyn Cyclones (57-31) 4, Hub City Spartanburgers (45-42) 5
- CF A.J. Ewing, 3-for-4, 2B, R (.783 OPS)
- DH Troy Schreffler, 1-for-3, HR (1), 2 RBI (11), 2 K (.486 OPS)
- RF Eli Serrano, 0-for-2, R, 2 BB, K (.746 OPS)
After stealing 13 bases in 19 attempts in 90 games at two levels last year, the 20-year-old Ewing has stolen 55 in 62 tries in 79 games this season. Hub City walked off Brooklyn on a two-run double with one out.
- RHP Brendan Girton (2.49 ERA) 4 2/3 IP, 9 K
Girton struck out four batters in the fourth inning. The only runner to reach base against Girton came on a wild pitch after a strikeout. His earned runs allowed in his last seven starts reads like binary code: 0,0,1,1,0,1,0. The 10th-round pick last year out of the University of Oklahoma has struck out 82 in 65 innings pitched.
Low-A
Palm Beach Cardinals (41-44) 7, St. Lucie Mets (48-38) 0
- RF Yohairo Cuevas, 1-for-4, 2B, K (.802 OPS)
- SS Jeremy Rodriguez, 0-for-3, SB (21), BB (.569 OPS)
- LF Willy Fanas, 1-for-3, SB (6) (.545 OPS)
Rodriguez is second on the team in steals behind Trey Snyder, who has 25. It’s rough to win a game when you commit more errors (5) than you have hits (2).
- RHP Alfred Vega (0.87 ERA) 3 IP, 4 K
Vega, 24, has 31 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings across three levels.
Rookie Ball Florida Complex League
FCL Astros (34-16) 1, FCL Mets (23-27) 2
- CF Edward Lantigua, 3-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI (25), K (.771 OPS)
- DH Julio Zayas, 1-for-2 (.756 OPS)
- LF Jeffry Rosa, 1-for-3, 2B (.595 OPS)
Lantigua hit a walk-off, two-run double with two outs two days after Baseball America called him “one of the best players in the Florida Complex League this year.” In ranking him No. 12 in the FCL, BA’s Josh Norris wrote, “beyond his capability to add some power, scouts also like Lantigua’s feel to hit, ability to move the barrel around the zone and the shorter stroke that should allow his hittability to translate as he moves through the minors.”
- RHP Omar Victorino (3.53 ERA) 4 IP, H, R, 2 BB, 2 K
Dominican Summer League
DSL Giants Orange (24-10) 5, DSL Mets Orange (20-14) 4
- SS Elian Peña, 2-for-4, 2 2B, SB (12), R, BB (.837 OPS)
- LF Adolfo Miranda, 1-for-4, 2B, 2 K (.947 OPS)
- 1B Roybert Herrera, 2-for-4, 2 RBI (5) (.912 OPS)
Peña is 25-for-75 (.333) with four home runs since starting the season 0-for-26. He is 12-for-13 stealing bases. Miranda has recorded a hit in 19 of his last 21 games.
- RHP Henderson Hernandez (5.16 ERA) 3 2/3 IP, ER, BB, 2 K
DSL Mets Blue (15-19) 4, DSL Blue Jays Red (16-18) 5
- CF Jhonael Cuello, 2-for-4, 2 RBI (3), SB (3), R, K (.446 OPS)
- 3B Yorber Semprun, 0-for-4, (.937 OPS)
- DH Yovanny Rodriguez, 1-for-3, 2B, BB (.940 OPS)
Rodriguez is 15-for-42 (.357) with four doubles this month. This was Cuello’s second two-hit game in his last four after he went all of June with two hits in 27 at-bats. Semprun had a seven-game hitting streak snapped.
- RHP Jean Brito (2.08 ERA) 4 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 K, HR, L
Brito, 19, of Venezuela has a 1.05 WHIP and 23 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings pitched.
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