PORT STREET LUCIE — Kodai Senga chose humility over bravado Wednesday when asked about wearing the “ace” label in the Mets’ starting rotation this season.
“I think being asked a question like this means that some people might think of me that way,” the Japanese right-hander said in his first official appearance as a pitcher and catcher at Clover Park. He spoke through an interpreter after practice. “But that was a result of me staying healthy and running healthy all season last year. And I don’t intend to be any different from that either. 1707999242 …and see what happens. ”
Last season, the rookie Chiga started out in a rotation of Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander that was expected to lead the Mets back to the playoffs, but he was isolated.
However, as the team struggled, both former three-time Cy Young Award winners had their contracts released by the trade deadline, leaving Chiga at the front of the rotation.
He did not disappoint, starting 29 games and posting a 12-7 record with a 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 166¹/₃ innings.
His performance was enough to place Chiga in second place in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.
Expectations for Chiga will remain high, especially after the Mets were unable to acquire a top rotation pitcher in free agency.
The Mets did their best to land Yoshinobu Yamamoto, offering him a total of $325 million over 12 years, but the Japanese ace instead signed the same contract with the Dodgers.
Did Chiga (who could be a bargain with a five-year deal worth $75 million) think the Mets had a chance to land Yamamoto?
“It’s hard to say whether he’ll come to the Mets or not, but the news has been that he’s scheduled to meet with various teams. I’m glad he made the decision that was best for him. I’m hoping for the best for him,” Chiga said.
Shohei Ohtani also signed with the Dodgers, bringing the game’s most famous player to the National League. Chiga was asked about the Dodgers’ formidable power considering their two major acquisitions.
“Not only are they in the same National League; [Ohtani and Yamamoto]They have a star-studded team, so we just have to perform at the highest level to beat them,” Chiga said.
Last season, the Mets pitched most of Chiga on extended rest to help him acclimate from Japan. It’s a tactic the team could use again this season, including adding a sixth starter if the Mets play a long game without an off day.
Luis Severino, Jose Quintana, Sean Manaea, and Adrian Hauser will be in the rotation behind Chiga, while Tyler Megill, Joey Lucchesi, and Jose Butto are among the available depth options.
Coach Carlos Mendoza noted that Chiga primarily had success last season with a schedule that gave him extra rest between starts.
“But when the team asked him to take the ball away, he also took the ball away,” Mendoza said. “I think this is something…let’s look at where we are in the schedule and what we have in terms of the bullpen. There’s a lot that goes into decision making. But ultimately, Chiga It’s important to put him in the best position to be successful and help the team win.”
Chiga’s goal this season is to improve his ability to differentiate between home and road play.
Last season, he started 16 games at Citi Field and posted a 2.42 ERA. He started 13 games on the road and posted a 3.68 ERA.
According to Chiga, the trip may have played a role in causing his body to become out of sync. In a small country like Japan, the range of travel is not very wide.
“What I really struggled with was the walks and wasted walks,” Chiga said. “I definitely want to reduce that, and in my second year I’ve gotten to know more about hitters.”
According to Statcast, Chiga’s weapon of choice is “Ghost Folk.” According to Statcast, Senga threw 23.8 percent of his pitches last season and his opponents had a batting average of .110. However, Chiga wants to improve his pitching.
“Last year, I threw a lot less fastballs than the year before,” Chiga said. “So I make sure that all my pitches are ‘A’ level or better and the forkball is obviously my best pitch and every hitter knows that. You have to make sure they throw a forkball better than they expect. ”
