The New York Mets have designated veteran closer Craig Kimbrel for assignment as they seek to strengthen their pitching staff, recalling Jonah Tong in his place. Kimbrel, who ranks fifth all-time with 440 career saves, has struggled during his time with the Mets, posting a 6.00 ERA in 14 appearances. His tenure with the team has been marked by limited opportunities, having pitched only twice since May 15. Despite this setback, the Mets have shown signs of improvement, winning 12 of their last 19 games to bring their record to 22-28. Kimbrel's career has seen a decline in his role, with his last significant saving performance occurring in 2018 when he saved 42 games for the World Series champion Boston Red Sox. In contrast, Jonah Tong, one of the Mets' top pitching prospects, has faced challenges in his initial starts, holding a 7.71 ERA but demonstrating strong strikeout potential with 55 strikeouts in 38 innings at Class AAA Syracuse. The Mets had initially announced Tobias Myers as the starter for their series opener against Miami, but they opted to give Tong the opportunity instead.