Mets starting pitcher Jonah Tong will not pitch for Canada at the 2026 World Baseball Classic in March.
Sep 18, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Jonah Tong pitches against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Imagesof 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.Joe Pantorno has been the executive sports editor of amNewYork since 2020. He covers the New York Mets and is a member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America . He is also a member of the Pro Hockey Writers’ Association and has covered the New York Islanders for nearly a decade. His previous stops include Bleacher Report and Metro New York, while his work has been featured in the New York Post, Newsday, and Yahoo! Sports.Penn Station redesign chief Andy Byford says he’s not fully ‘up to speed’ on looming Gateway Tunnel project breakdownMets’ Jonah Tong will not pitch for Canada at World Baseball Classic
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