New York Mets right-handed pitcher Kodai Senga has decided to postpone his return to the Major League team despite being physically in optimal condition.
Senga, who was sent to Triple-A earlier this month to work on his mechanics, aimed to return to the team on September 20. However, after pitching 3.2 innings and allowing four runs for Syracuse in Triple-A, Senga has expressed that he doesn’t feel ready to compete at the Major League level.
Instead of rejoining the team, Senga will face hitters in a simulated session next Tuesday or Wednesday. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza is determining the location for this practice, as Senga cannot be with the Major League team while in the minors.
Senga’s decision comes after a disappointing performance in his last Triple-A outing. Although his first outing after the assignment was promising, the recent one demonstrated a significant setback. Mendoza commented that Senga’s performance regarding his “stuff” was not as expected, including a decrease in velocity and a lack of precision in his secondary pitches.
This situation is reminiscent of last season, when Senga, despite being healthy, delayed his debut due to mechanical issues. This year, Senga had an excellent performance at the beginning of the season, but a hamstring injury in June affected his performance. After returning from the injured list, his effectiveness increased, and the team experienced difficulties in their performance.Mets pitcher Kodai Senga regressed in his Triple-A outing on Thursday, allowing four runs in 3⅔ innings.Despite the situation, Mendoza has assured that Senga is physically well. However, Senga’s problems, combined with Sean Manaea’s ineffectiveness and injuries to other starting pitchers, have led the Mets to rely on three rookies: Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, and Brandon Sproat.
McLean has excelled in his six starts, while the roles of Tong and Sproat are less defined. Senga’s situation is even more uncertain, although Mendoza has mentioned the possibility of his return for the final series of the season against the Miami Marlins, but this will depend on several factors.
