PORT ST. LUCIE — Jonah Tong spent last spring training far removed from the spotlight as a Mets pitching prospect.
This spring is different.
Tong, in his first major league camp, is under the scrutiny of team officials any time he picks up a baseball.
And Friday was his first opportunity to face hitters.
Tong threw 36 pitches over two innings of live batting practice, the Mets’ first chance to watch the rookie on the Clover Park mound.
“I really get to appreciate not only the hitters in the box, but also building a relationship with the catchers,” Tong said. “That’s more important this time of the year as we get toward the season.”
In five starts late last season, the 22-year-old Tong pitched to a 7.71 ERA as part of a rookie threesome that also included Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat.
Tong will likely begin the season at Triple-A Syracuse to receive further reps at that level.
Last season, he was called up to the Mets after only two starts for Syracuse.
Tong dominated in 20 starts for Double-A Binghamton to emerge as one of baseball’s top pitching prospects.
“The mindset stays the same,” Tong said of his spring training this season compared to last. “I am just going out there to have a lot of fun and enjoy these people, and try to learn as much as I possibly can and everything else will just fall as it may.”
Tong said a focus this spring is the continued refinement of his offspeed pitches, including sequencing.
“I want him to enjoy,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “I want him to learn as much as possible from every guy that we have in that room and I want him to go out there and be himself. We know about the fastball and the changeup and he’s working on a cutter. He’s working on his secondary pitches, whether we want to call it a slider, and I want him to go out there and to continue to develop all these pitches, compete and prepare for his year.
“He’s going to pitch for us and we’re going to need him. Learn, have fun and let the rest take care of itself.”
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