Three hours before he was scheduled to throw the game’s first pitch, Jonah Tong stood, barefoot, in the centerfield grass at Citi Field and stared toward home plate, 400 feet away. Tong wore long black shorts and a long-sleeve black t-shirt with “Mets” in script across the chest. His black hair was wet from a shower. Tong balanced on his right leg for a minute. He balanced on his left leg. He practiced his golf swing. The 22-year-old would soon be making his third major league start, a crucial moment in the attempt to save an imploding Mets season. He appeared utterly at ease.

The Mets had been plunging rapidly downhill for three months and were now on the verge of tumbling out of the playoffs. The sudden arrival of Tong and two nearly-as-young rookie pitchers, Nolan McLean and Brandon Sp

See Full Page