Hoping to calm a starting rotation that is constantly in flux, New York Mets pitcher Jonah Tong is trying to make a case to be a long-term answer.
If asked to choose one word to describe Steve Cohen's tenure as New York Mets owner, "continuity" would not be high on the list of possible selections. Since taking the reins of the franchise prior to the 2021 season, the roster has been treated dynamically, with as much as 40% to 50% season-to-season player turnover and shortstop Francisco Lindor the only player from 2021 still with the team today.
As another disappointing season grinds toward a conclusion, Cohen did admit that maybe there was "too much risk" taken when constructing the 2026 roster, as reported by The Score's Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb in August. That, however, doesn't mean the Mets will stand still heading into 2027 as another reboot looms, with Cohen recently conceding that "new voices" might be needed in the front office.
One relatively new voice will definitely be back next season. On Tuesday, the Mets announced that they have inked interim manager Andy Green to a three-year contract. Since taking over for Carlos Mendoza in June, Green has led the Mets to a 38-38 record entering Wednesday, while they have been relatively competitive against teams in the playoff hunt.
One of Green's most pressing tasks heading into next season is determining which current Mets pitchers have a chance to man the rotation when the curtain rises on the 2027 season.
If any area of the team needs to establish some continuity, it's the starting rotation. In the six seasons since 2021, 18 different pitchers have started a season in New York's five-man rotation with another 10 seeing a significant number of starts in that time period due to trades, injuries, minor-league recalls or ineffectiveness.
The lone constant in those six seasons was David Peterson, but his stay at Citi Field ended on June 25 when he was traded to the Chicago Cubs. Peterson is one of three pitchers who started 2026 in the rotation and have since been traded, along with Freddy Peralta - last off-season's headline-grabbing addition - and Clay Holmes, while a fourth rotation member, 2023's expensive Japanese import Kodai Senga was quickly banished to the bullpen, where he continues to struggle with an 0-9 record and ERA north of 7.00.
So, if the 2027 season started immediately, who in the current rotation would be called upon? One lead-pipe cinch is Nolan McLean, who has performed as advertised with an 11-10 record and 3.18 ERA in 30 starts that makes it certain he will receive Rookie of the Year votes. Christian Scott, whose 2026 season ended with a trip to the DL on Sept. 22, and Zac Thornton have shown promise in going a combined 9-10 in 37 total starts and 189.1 innings this season.
There aren't many ready-made options in the farm system, but there is one intriguing arm who might need a little more seasoning: left-hander Jonathan Santucci, who led the minor leagues with 163 strikeouts in stints with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse. His 120 strikeouts in 90.2 innings, .213 opponents' batting average and 3.57 ERA earned Santucci a spot on the Double-A Eastern League All-Star team.
That leaves Jonah Tong. Ironically, it was with great fanfare that Tong arrived in the major leagues on Aug. 29, 2025, after he, too, led the minors in strikeouts with 179 last season, with an eye-opening 162 of them coming in just 102 innings at Binghamton.
At the time of Tong's recall, the Mets sat at 73-62 and held a five-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds for the final National League wild-card. We all know what happened from there as New York limped home 10-17 to finish 83-79 and watch the Reds pip them for the NL's last playoff spot courtesy of their 4-2 record against the New Yorkers.
Pitching every sixth day, Tong contributed three of those losses, including a pivotal one at Cincinnati in which he gave up four earned runs in six innings with all three hits he allowed being home runs. Following that were six- and five-run disasters against the Texas Rangers and Cubs in which he lasted a total of 2.2 innings. In all, Tong finished with 1-3 record and 9.88 ERA
So, based on that performance, as well as the Mets' latest attempt to assemble an all-star starting staff by any means, Tong was something of an afterthought heading to spring training. Pitching at Triple-A Syracuse, Tong went 5-6 with a 4.54 ERA. He continued to show strong strikeout stuff with 126 whiffs in 107 IP.
After a trio of spot starts with the Mets in May and June, Tong earned a recall to the big club for the final three weeks of the season on Sept. 7. In three starts since then, he has gone a solid 1-1 with a 4.60 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 15.2 IP.
On Sept. 20, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com chose Tong as the one Met to watch during the final week of the season, writing, "Few Mets players have as much to prove as Tong, who spent most of this season in the minors before recently returning and flashing some much-improved form. If Tong can finish the year with another solid start, he will position himself well for what’s sure to be a lively rotation competition next spring. If he falters, he’ll only give the Mets more reason to be wary of him."
Tong's final chance to impress the brass this season comes on Saturday when he is scheduled to face the Washington Nationals. Then his preparations for the 2027 season will begin, one he hopes will see him become a foundational piece in an historically volatile Mets rotation that could use some continuity.
