The New York Mets optioned right-hander Jonah Tong to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, recalling Joey Gerber in a bullpen shuffle ahead of their series finale against Seattle. Tong, ranked as baseball's No. 35 prospect and second in the Mets system, struggled in Tuesday's 8-3 loss, allowing four runs over 3 1/3 innings while issuing two walks.

Manager Carlos Mendoza emphasized that Tong needs consistency in throwing strikes despite his obvious talent. The 22-year-old posted a 3.60 ERA across 10 innings in three appearances since his May 22 call-up, but command issues have plagued the hard-throwing reliever. Mendoza stressed that Tong must continue developing in Syracuse before rejoining the club.

Gerber provides immediate relief depth after the Mets exhausted their pitching staff in consecutive games. New York used six pitchers in Monday's extra-inning marathon and four more Tuesday, contributing to their league-high 12 extra-inning contests this season. Gerber's lone appearance this year featured five strikeouts over two scoreless innings on April 13.

Sean Manaea, another bulk reliever, delivered five strong innings Monday after replacing Austin Warren. Manaea's decreased spring training velocity cost him a rotation spot, shifting him permanently to the bullpen alongside David Peterson. These moves reflect the Mets' ongoing search for reliable late-inning options amid heavy workload demands.