Jonah Tong will get another chance.
The 22-year-old Mets starter, who did not record three outs in his most recent outing, is set to get the ball Thursday for the series finale against the Padres at Citi Field.
As the Mets condense their rotation — Clay Holmes and Sean Manaea worked well in tandem Tuesday — Tong is still a part of the group.
“We’re not going to overreact after one inning, one outing,” manager Carlos Mendoza said before the 8-3 victory. “We know the stuff is there and his ability to bounce back. What we’ve seen in the minor leagues and what we’ve seen here, we feel good with him going on Thursday.”
Tong sailed through the minors this season and performed decently in his first two major league opportunities before Friday, when he let up six runs on four hits and three walks while lasting two-thirds of an inning in a loss to the Rangers.
The young righty was emotional after the game and received a positive word from just about everyone.
“With all three of these guys [including Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat], I think one of the reasons we were comfortable making the decisions we did to promote them was we felt like they can handle adversity, and they can bounce back,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “Clearly, what Jonah went through wasn’t pleasant for him to experience.
“But I also think it’s telling that pretty much every guy on our pitching staff after the game had a story to tell Jonah about something similar that has happened to them at some point in their careers. … I also don’t want to necessarily overstate one outing. I think a pitch here or there very much could have changed that inning.”
Tong staying in the majors coincides with Kodai Senga staying in the minors.
Senga will make a second start with Triple-A Syracuse at the end of this week, “and then we’ll go from there,” Mendoza said.
Barring injury, Senga would not have been able to be summoned until Saturday anyway.
Stearns on Mendoza: “I think Mendi’s done a very good job. I think he’s been a positive leader, a consistent leader, has done what he can to get our group going, and I think he’s going to continue to do that.”
Luis Torrens (right forearm contusion) was in the lineup Tuesday night for a Triple-A rehab assignment with the Syracuse Mets. He played behind the plate for seven innings and went 0-for-4, striking out twice.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
