Mets Have Next Tim Lincecum, 'Strikeout Machine' in Line for Rotation
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
The New York Mets have taken back the top spot in the National League East division and are coming off of an impressive extra-innings win against the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Though the Mets' best player, Juan Soto, is seeing a slow start to the season, the team has enjoyed strong contributions from a broad range of others. Pete Alonso has returned to the team in career form, Francisco Lindor has continued to play like one of the best shortstops in the sport and the pitching staff is replete with pleasant surprises.
Even with a big-league roster that appears as complete as any in the majors, the Mets also have a budding superstar waiting in the wings. SNY's Danny Abriano detailed how "fast-rising" prospect Jonah Tong is drawing some exciting comparisons from Double-A Binghamton.
"As Tong continues a meteoric rise that saw him excel across three minor league levels in 2024 during what was his first full professional season, he has taken it up a notch this season with Binghamton, where he has a 2.25 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, with an eye-popping 72 strikeouts and only 23 hits allowed over 44.0 innings spanning seven starts," Abriano wrote. "But as far as one pitcher Tong most enjoyed watching and says he's compared to the most, it's Tim Lincecum, who was a strikeout machine during his heyday while winning two Cy Young awards for the Giants."
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 27: Tim Lincecum #55 of the San Francisco Giants walks to the dugout after striking out swining Andy Dirks #12 of the Detroit Tigers to end the eighth inning during Game...
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 27: Tim Lincecum #55 of the San Francisco Giants walks to the dugout after striking out swining Andy Dirks #12 of the Detroit Tigers to end the eighth inning during Game Three of the Major League Baseball World Series at Comerica Park on October 27, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by) More
Shaw/Getty
From 2008 to 2011, Lincecum was one of the most electric pitchers in all of baseball, earning four All-Star nods in that span despite his diminutive stature and unorthodox delivery. His career took a sharp downward turn after its peak, but if the Mets can expect a Lincecum-like arrival for Tong, they will surely take it.
Tong does have some more to prove in the minors before he'd be ready to test that comparison at the big-league level, but it's possible the Mets could promote him as soon as next season if he can keep up this level of production.
Given the level of success the team is having, particularly in the pitching staff, the idea of adding the next Lincecum to the rotation is an exciting one.
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