Port St. Lucy – Kodaisenga has spent some of the winter in rehabilitation mode at home in winter, with the goal of arriving in spring training ready for normal accumulation for the season.
On that count, the Mets' right-hander is sure he's been successful.
Senga on Tuesday said he has been “normal and healthy” since early January after missing out on almost everything from last season due to multiple illnesses.
“I'm not worried at all,” Senga said through an interpreter. “I need to slowly start up and pitch a lot of innings so I can get my spring training healthy and get deeper into the postseason.”
Senga said there was an element of discovery for him this winter.
“This offseason has been really great in terms of assessing the types of moves I don't need,” he said. “I was able to work on it and I feel really good up to this point. You need to light it down slowly.”
Last year, Senga arrived at camp and attempted to build from a strong rookie season, pitching 2.98 ERA in 202 strikeouts in 166²/₃ innings.
However, Senga was diagnosed with shoulder tension early in his spring training and opened the season with an injured list.
After his rehabilitation retreat, Senga finally pitched for the Mets on July 26th.
That start against the Braves made him enter six innings, but before he completed his outing, he tensed the left calf as he moved off the mound with a pop-up.
Senga's season came on, but in October the Mets' deep running gave him the opportunity to make a comeback.
Senga opposed the NLDS Phillies and the NLC Dodgers. In his three appearances, he posted a 12.60 ERA.
Senga doesn't regret trying him, even if he's under full rehabilitation.
“It felt good,” he said. “I felt I was ready to throw at the time.”
Senga added: “I'm happy to be able to play there. I'm grateful they called me, and I was able to get in there. That's what the whole team is looking forward to and working on for the whole season. , I'm happy to experience it. I've experienced it so I can work hard this year and staying healthy will help me push my team to our ultimate goals. It will help you.”
The Mets will employ a six-person rotation to provide extra rest for Senga, who are mostly used to such a schedule in Japan. Senga was better on extra rest days than his regular schedule in his first season with the Mets.
“I think what really matters is my health. If I feel good, I think I can throw it, whether it's a rotation of six or five, a regular rest or a long rest.” Senga said. “It's up to the manager to decide when to throw. I need to be ready to throw every time they call me.”
Senga has the same agent as Roki Sasaki, but he said he has not been involved in the recruitment of the Japanese stars.
The Mets were one of the teams that I spoke to Sasaki of Southern California in December.
Sasaki's arrival gives the Dodgers three Japanese stars, joining Yotani, Yoshinobu Yobu and Yoshinobu. Senga was asked about the possibility that the Mets would add additional Japanese players.
“Of course I would like the Mets to have a little more, but the weather and climate are good. [in Los Angeles]and I think it definitely plays a role,” Senga said. “We need to build a roof.”
