Mets starting pitcher Jonah Tong will not pitch for Canada at the 2026 World Baseball Classic in March.
Shi Davidi of Sportsnet first reported the 22-year-old’s decision. He will instead report to spring training to join the Mets on Feb. 11 and focus on putting together a push to become a full-time member of the big-league club’s rotation.
Tong experienced a meteoric rise in 2025. In 20 Double-A starts and just two Triple-A outings, he posted a 1.43 ERA with 179 strikeouts and a 0.92 WHIP.
He got the call to the majors to help save a nosediving rotation, which was a significant ask for such a young arm, and it showed. Tong went 2-3 with a 7.71 ERA in five starts.
It became abundantly clear that a bit more seasoning in Triple-A is needed, which is the most likely scenario in 2026. The Mets picked up Freddy Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers, and he will top a starting staff that will also include Nolan McLean, Sean Manaea, Clay Holmes, Kodai Senga, and David Peterson.
