In a setback for the New York Mets, star pitcher Kodai Senga has encountered a new hurdle in his rehabilitation journey. During a recent minor league outing, Senga experienced tightness in his right triceps, forcing him to shut down his regular season comeback bid.
Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza revealed that Senga might still throw a bullpen session, leaving the door open for a potential postseason return. The 31-year-old right-hander’s latest rehab stint saw him toss a hitless inning with a walk and two strikeouts for Triple-A Syracuse, throwing eight of 15 pitches for strikes.
According to Mendoza, Senga opted to play it safe despite feeling capable of continuing to pitch. “It’s been a tough year for him,” Mendoza said. “He’s worked incredibly hard. You feel for him. Every time he wants to push it and take the baseball, he’s dealing with something. Hopefully, this is nothing serious, but it’s going to set him back a little bit as far as game competition at the big league level.”
Senga signed a lucrative five-year, $75 million contract with the Mets ahead of the 2023 season and went on to become an All-Star in his inaugural campaign. He posted an impressive 12-7 record with a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts, finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting.
Earlier this year, an MRI revealed a capsule strain in Senga’s pitching shoulder, prompting a series of minor league rehab starts. Despite showing promise in those outings, Senga suffered a calf strain in late July, further delaying his return to the majors.
Mendoza praised Senga’s competitive spirit, saying, “He knows that we’re a better team if he’s healthy. He’s going to continue to try everything in his power to be available for us.”
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