"The comparisons to the Giants' two-time Cy Young winner have followed Tong for years and with good reason: He's told several outlets he used to watch compilation videos of MLB pitchers on YouTube growing up and liked Lincecum more than anyone. So when he was learning how to pitch with his dad, he used a little moment of rebellion to land on a Freak-esque form."
"Like Lincecum, Tong is shorter for a pitcher, at 6-foot-1, and has a lighter frame. Tong's rockback and leg kick aren't as pronounced as Lincecum's, but from the moment he fully extends his arms, they are nearly identical. The motion allows his mid-90s mph fastball to overpower hitters, as well as mixing in a devastating curveball to boot. This year, he added a couple of extra miles per hour to the fastball and developed a devastating changeup."
Jonah Tong, a 22-year-old right-hander in the New York Mets system, is being called up to make his major league debut against the Marlins. Tong modeled aspects of his delivery after Tim Lincecum and developed a Freak-esque form while learning to pitch with his dad. Drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 draft, Tong broke out in 2024 with 160 strikeouts in 113 mostly High-A innings after a slow first season. At 6-foot-1 with a lighter frame, his full extension helps his mid-90s fastball play up while he mixes a devastating curveball and an improved changeup and added velocity this year.
Read at SFGATE
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