Mets Notes: Andy Green on Jonah Tong potentially joining the rotation, Devin Williams' status, and Juan Soto returning to the outfield

Prior to Wednesday night's rubber match against the Tampa Bay Rays, Mets interim skipper Andy Green talked about the team's starting pitching rotation moving forward and the health status of key players.  Is a Jonah Tong call-up just around the corner? With the MLB rosters having just expanded by an additional two players, 23-year-old righty Jonah Tong is a strong candidate for a September call-up from Triple-A Syracuse. In his last outing in the minors on Aug. 29th, Tong allowed just one hit through seven full innings, striking out eight batters and walking two. Green told the media that Tong's potential addition to the team's pitching staff is "under discussion right now" and called the prospect of an extended starting rotation "definitely a possibility". "We have been paying attention to Jonah's outings, we've seen where he's at, and we think positively about what he's done," he continued. "When Jonah is in the strike zone, on the attack, letting his best stuff play, he usually has a lot of success," Green concluded. However, it seems that Tong's potential first start with the big-league club since Sep. 24, 2025 might have to wait until after New York's three-game road set against the San Francisco Giants, as Green named Nolan McLean, Zac Thornton, and Christian Scott as the team's starters for that series. Status of injured RHP Devin Williams This past week, it was revealed that the Mets "hope and anticipate" that closer Devin Williams will return from his shoulder strain this season. Accordingly, Green provided a brief update on the right-hander in his news conference. "He's playing catch. I don't have a timetable yet, but he is throwing," he stated. In Williams' place, Kodai Senga has been converted into an effective makeshift reliever. In the month of August, Senga recorded five saves and 12 strikeouts across 10.1 innings, sporting a 1.74 ERA in the process. Juan Soto's potential return to the outfield The last time Juan Soto started a game in the Mets' outfield was Jul. 24 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the same game in which the star slugger exited early with a calf injury. Since returning from that injury on Aug. 29, Soto has served as the team's designated hitter rather than taking his usual spot in left field. However, Green had some positive news about Soto's potential return to the outfield. "He'll definitely get back out there," Green shared "We'll let how he feels daily dictate how often he's out there, since we'd obviously like him in the lineup every single day, so we'll do our best." "There will be DH days, but how many depends on a number of factors," Green revealed.