A minor league pitcher in the New York Mets system was removed from a game Saturday despite being one out away from throwing a perfect game.
Jonah Tong, a pitcher for the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies, retired the first 20 Reading Phillies batters he faced on Saturday. As the game was part of a doubleheader, it was only scheduled to go 7 innings, meaning Tong was one out away from a 7-inning perfect game.
However, Tong threw 99 pitches to get that far, and the team appeared to be under strict orders to not let him throw more than that. The 21-year-old was removed from the game despite needing just one more out to finish the game off.
Tong appeared very frustrated with the decision. So did the home crowd, who booed loudly.
Jonah Tong is removed at 99 pitches and one out away from a 7-inning perfect game for Double-A Binghamton pic.twitter.com/8PazWemXVf
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) May 10, 2025
Reliever TJ Shook struck out the next hitter to complete a combined 7-inning perfect game.
Tong struck out 13 of the 20 batters he faced, lowering his season ERA to 2.57. The 21-year-old has 40 strikeouts in his last 19 innings of work. One can hardly blame him for his disappointment at being removed, as he may not get the chance to throw a perfect game again at any level.
The 21-year-old Tong was a 7th round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, and is ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the Mets’ system by MLB.com. He may find himself rising up that list if he continues to pitch like this.
