Mets ace Kodai Senga has been shut down for nearly a month after being diagnosed with a capsule strain in his right shoulder, but after a recent MRI he’s been cleared to return to baseball activity. Senga won’t start throwing immediately but could do so within the next week, manager Carlos Mendoza announced to reporters this morning (link via SNY’s Danny Abriano).
At the time of his injury, Senga was shut down for a minimum of three weeks. That was extended another week to ten days, but the latest MRI is far more encouraging, it seems. Once he’s cleared some strength tests, he’ll begin a throwing progression.
Senga’s initial diagnosis launched a fifth-starter competition in camp that was eventually won by right-hander Tylor Megill. He’ll slot into the five spot behind Opening Day starter Jose Quintana and the trio of Sean Manaea, Adrian Houser and Luis Severino. Given that Senga will be picking up a ball for the first time in around a month, he’ll effectively need a full spring training to build up to game readiness. That means the Quintana-Manaea-Houser-Severino-Megill quintet could be in place for the first month or so of the season (pending other injuries on the starting staff, of course).
The 31-year-old Senga was a Rookie of the Year finalist in 2023, exceeding preseason expectations by rattling off 166 1/3 innings of 2.98 ERA ball with a 29.1% strikeout rate. Senga’s 11.1% walk rate could use some improvement, but he took little time cementing him as a quality big league starter. He’s in the second season of a five-year, $75MM pact spanning the 2023-27 seasons.
cautiously optimistic, but good to read a bit of potential good news.
Yes, its good news for him, but did they have to list the entire rotation? Its not making me feel better.
Excellent
Yes. Watching Senga pitch is the primary appeal of the 2024 Mets season.
No rush. No setbacks.
After the Mets season last year many of their fans were throwing their teams programs in the trash.
If you are going to pitch, a throwing program is a good idea.
Teams rarely let starters who are increasing their workload in simulated games use actual games as their ‘simulated games.’
On say May 1 I’d rather have Senga throw 60 pitches against Philly (or whomever) than I would Joey Lucchesi.
Speaking of which, what’s wrong with Joey?
To much pressure to stay in a real game. Simulatedl, any trouble easy to go sit down
Great, maybe he’ll be back in time to see the mets finish in 4th again
*to help the Mets finish in 4th again
Mets starting pitching isnt going to scare anyone – and I get such a laugh out of hearing them say they are going to compete for a wild card – b 4 Senga makes it back Severino will be on the DL – have zero faith that Megill can stay healthy – and well the pen is awful –