Jonah Tong opens up emotionally about Jacob deGrom duel from Mets vs Rangers showdown

New York Mets pitcher Jonah Tong revealed just how overwhelming and meaningful it was to share the field with Jacob deGrom. Tong described the experience from the Mets vs Rangers matchup in September as a blend of pressure, awe and reflection.

The 22-year-old rookie matched up against deGrom in just his third MLB start on Sep. 13. Tong reflected on the experience during an interview with "Pitching Ninja" Rob Friedman on Friday.

"I remember talking to Hef (Jeremy Hefner, then-pitching coach of the Mets) about it," Jonah Tong said. (Timestamp: 3:00) ."He was just like, 'Hey, pretty cool you're going to be pitching against him, right?' And I'm like, 'Yeah, of course,' trying to play it cool, like, 'Yeah, but we're here to win. We're in a playoff race.'"

Tong then admitted it was surreal to see deGrom arrive at Citi Field. His admiration quickly turned to focus, but he faltered in the game. The rookie pitcher gave up six earned runs in just 0.2 innings pitched. Still, the experience left a lasting impact.

"Watching him throw from the best seat in the house was crazy," TonG said. "The competitor in me still wanted to be out there, but the fan in me was like, 'Oh my gosh, oh my gosh. I'm witnessing probably one of these rare moments in history that I'm going to talk to my kids about." "Sometimes I’ll watch it back and strictly watch from his perspective, how he did," he added. "It’s just so pretty. I think that's the best way to describe watching him pitch after the fact. It was just gorgeous."

Friedman agreed with Tong's assessment. He also hailed de Grom as the greatest pitcher of the modern era. However, Friedman also disclosed that the veteran ace didn't divulge his grip mechanics when he asked about it.

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Jonah Tong on his father's impact

In the same conversation with Rob Friedman, Jonah Tong said his baseball journey is inextricably linked to his father. Tong credited his father for his development, mindset and ability to persevere.

"I wouldn’t be playing baseball if it wasn't for him," Jonah Tong said (Timestamp: 8:36). "I probably would’ve been done a long time ago. He's my first and pretty much forever pitching coach. Whether he likes to admit it or not, there’s nobody who knows me better than he does."

The Mets rookie was born to Alex and Karen Tong in Ontario. Tong's father is of Chinese heritage, while his mother has Irish, German and Scottish roots. Both parents played hockey and volleyball in high school.

Edited by Safeer M S