Tong is an unusually talented prospect with an unusual backstory. A Markham, Ontario native went stateside to the Georgia Premier Academy for a year and then showed enough in the MLB Draft league to convince the Mets to use a seventh-round pick and $226,000 to persuade Tong out of a North Dakota State commitment.

Right-hander Mets’ Kodai Senga was activated off the injured list Friday afternoon for the series opener against the Kansas City Royals.

Manaea emerged as the ace of the Mets’ staff after tweaking his delivery last season. Turning to more of a side-arm slot, he pitched to a 2.70 ERA with 86 strikeouts during a 12-game stretch in which he tossed 76 1/3 innings. As a result, he was awarded a three-year, $75 million extension this winter.

Two of the Mets’ best pitching prospects and their two closest to Queens look arguably ready — at a time when the Mets’ big-league rotation no longer has a clear hole.

As the New York Mets look to stay competitive in the NL East, a potential trade for Pirates ace Mitch Keller could bolster their injury-riddled rotation ahead of the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline.

That leaves David Peterson, Clay Holmes, Frankie Montas and Paul Blackburn. Over the weekend, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza indicated Blade Tidwell, another prospect, would make a start against the Milwaukee Brewers this week. Through three appearances (two starts) totaling 10 2/3 innings, Tidwell has allowed 12 earned runs.

NEW YORK — The Mets are down another starter. After learning that reliever Dedniel Núñez was feeling soreness in his right elbow after Wednesday’s outing, the Mets revealed that another starter, Paul Blackburn, was headed to the injured list with a right shoulder impingement.

Sproat has now tossed three scoreless starts in a row and has not given up a run over his last 18 innings of work.Read More: New York Mets' top pitching prospect named Player of the WeekSproat, who is ranked as the Mets' No.

The Mets aren’t alone in trying to ensure their pitchers get the right amount of work before the four-day break, but a Thursday doubleheader will make that more complicated.