CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

Mets righthander Jonah Tong learned a new Vulcan changeup grip and prospered with an all-time minor league pitching season

- by GEOFF PONTES

Entering spring training, Jonah Tong knew he was ready to take a step forward.

After working in the offseason to add velocity and improve the quality of his change-up, the 22-year-old Mets righthander was about to unleash a level of dominance on the Eastern League not seen in some time.

Now, after making good on that preparation with a stellar season that saw Tong earn a callup to the Mets, he is the Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

A tweak in his changeup grip helped kick things off. "I tried out a splitter in offseason camps and didn't like how it felt," Tong told Baseball America about his Vulcan-grip change. "So they suggested we try on top of the horseshoe."

That seam orientation made all the difference. Tong was able to create significant depth between his four-seam fastball and his primary offspeed pitch. With this tweak, Tong’s changeup went from a third or even fourth pitch to the clear star of an arsenal that dominated opposing hitters in 2025, primarily with Double-A Binghamton.

Tong boosted his changeup usage and saw his whiff and chase numbers rise. He generated a whiff rate of 50.8% against his changeup in the minors this season, while generating a chase rate of 31.9%. He also showed the ability to command the pitch, with a 54.5% zone rate that was the highest in his arsenal.