The New York Mets optioned right-hander Jonah Tong to Triple-A Syracuse and recalled right-hander Joey Gerber on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 [5].
The roster move comes as the team seeks to replenish a bullpen that suffered significant fatigue during a series against the Seattle Mariners. By swapping arms, the Mets aim to maintain depth and arm availability for the remainder of the schedule.
Recent games highlighted the need for fresh arms. The Mets used six pitchers [3] in a 3-2 loss to Seattle that went 10 innings. The team then utilized four pitchers [4] in an 8-3 loss to the Mariners the following day.
Tong, who is 22 years old [2], was sent to the Syracuse Mets to make room for Gerber. Despite a 3.60 ERA [1], team officials said Tong's presence was less critical at the major-league level than the immediate need for bullpen relief.
Gerber joins the active roster to provide the necessary relief following the high-volume usage of the previous two games. The move allows the Mets to stabilize their pitching rotation as they exit the series finale against Seattle.
“The Mets optioned right-hander Jonah Tong to Triple-A Syracuse and recalled right-hander Joey Gerber”
This transaction reflects a tactical shift to manage pitcher workload after a high-stress series. By prioritizing the immediate need for bullpen depth over the long-term development of 22-year-old Jonah Tong, the Mets are addressing short-term volatility in their relief corps to avoid potential injury or performance degradation caused by overuse.
