Mets Start Jonah Tong in MLB Debut Against Marlins

Several rising pitching talents are making headlines across baseball leagues in 2025. The New York Mets are promoting 22-year-old Jonah Tong, their No. 3 prospect, to start against the Miami Marlins, bypassing another promising pitcher, Brandon Sproat, due to Tong's dominant performances at every level and favorable scheduling, according to Mets president David Stearns. Meanwhile, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced a new Relief Pitcher of the Year award starting in 2026, recognizing the evolving importance of relievers, a role once overlooked in major award voting despite historic achievements by pitchers like Dodgers’ Eric Gagne. In the MLB, Chicago Cubs rookie pitcher Cade Horton reflects on his dual-sport athletic background, having excelled in both football and baseball, demonstrating the physical and mental toughness contributing to his promising start. At the collegiate level, Fresno City College’s Bowen Salyards earned the 2025 Central Valley Conference pitcher of the year and is now stepping into a leadership role, emphasizing teamwork and maintaining composure under pressure. These stories collectively highlight the emergence of young pitching talent and the growing recognition and complexity of pitching roles in baseball today.