Jonah Tong of the Mets aims to maintain the same ‘mindset’ during spring training.

Jonah Tong’s Spring Training Debut

PORT STREET SEA — Last spring, Jonah Tong was somewhat of an unknown as a pitching prospect with the Mets, training away from the limelight.

This time around, things are different.

Now in his first major league camp, he’s feeling the pressure. Every time he grabs a baseball, team officials are closely observing his every move.

On Friday, he faced his first batter, throwing 36 pitches over two innings during live batting practice. It gave the Mets their initial glimpse of the rookie on the mound at Clover Park.

“I really appreciate building relationships, not just with the hitters, but also with the catchers,” Tong shared. “That seems even more crucial now as we gear up for the season.”

At just 22, Tong had five starts last season, ending with a 7.71 ERA while part of a rookie trio alongside Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat.

He is expected to start the season at Triple-A Syracuse for more experience at that level.

Last year, he made only two starts for Syracuse before making it to the big leagues. Tong had a more active season at Double-A Binghamton, where he started 20 games and has since emerged as a notable pitching prospect.

“The mindset hasn’t changed,” he said about his approach to this spring training versus the last. “I’m just focused on having fun, enjoying my time with everyone, learning everything I can. Everything else will fall into place.”

Continuing to refine his offspeed pitches, especially sequencing, is his main focus this spring.

“I want him to have fun,” said coach Carlos Mendoza. “I hope he learns as much as possible from his teammates. It’s important for him to be himself. We know he has a solid fastball and changeup, and he’s working on the cutter and his secondary pitch, whether it’s labeled as a slider or something else. He needs to keep developing those pitches, competing, and getting ready for the season.”