Kodai Senga’s Frustrating Season Continues
This year was meant to bring a fresh start for Kodai Senga.
He came into spring training feeling healthy and confident, hopeful to replicate the impressive rookie year he had with the Mets in 2023.
But, as has become all too common for the team this season, things haven’t gone as expected.
Now, Senga finds himself back on the injured list with lumbar spinal inflammation. After getting an epidural on Tuesday, he won’t be able to pitch for about a week to ten days.
The timeline for his return remains uncertain.
He disclosed on Wednesday that he’d been dealing with some level of discomfort in that area since spring training. However, it wasn’t until Sunday’s game against the Rockies that he realized the extent of the issue. “I was able to manage it, but it got to a point on Sunday where it clearly impacted my pitching,” he said via an interpreter.
This latest performance marked Senga’s third consecutive disappointing outing, where he yielded 16 earned runs over just 8 1/3 innings across those starts.
He mentioned that the pain sometimes made it “difficult to stand on one leg.”
This injury adds to a troubling list of health setbacks he’s faced since his stellar rookie season in 2023. In 2024, he only pitched once during the regular season, having to stop due to a shoulder strain and a left calf strain.
Last season, he suffered a hamstring injury while covering first base, attempting to snag a high throw from Pete Alonso. After his return, he struggled and was eventually sent down to Triple-A Syracuse.
Senga clarified on Wednesday that there hasn’t been any discussion about him returning to the minors.
He still does not have a clear timeline for his comeback.
“The outlook is grim. I’ll have to see how my body responds,” he explained. “I’m just focused on getting back on the field as soon as possible.”
With Senga’s ongoing struggles, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to have high expectations for him. Following some adjustments, the Mets have reinstated David Peterson to the rotation and expect Christian Scott to take the mound against the Angels in Anaheim.
“As a baseball player, my main job is to be on the field and contribute to the team,” Senga expressed. “It’s really frustrating not being able to do that.”
