PORT ST. LUCIE — Kodai Senga spent a part of his winter at dwelling in Japan in rehab mode, with the aim of arriving at spring coaching prepared for a standard buildup towards the season.
On that depend, the Mets right-hander is assured he succeeded.
Senga on Tuesday mentioned he’s been “regular and wholesome” since early January after lacking nearly all of final season with a number of illnesses.
“I’m not fearful in any respect,” Senga mentioned by his interpreter. “I simply have to ramp up slowly and get by spring coaching wholesome and pitching plenty of innings so we are able to go deep into the postseason.”
Senga mentioned there’s been a component of discovery for him this winter.
“This offseason has been actually nice by way of evaluating what kinds of actions I want and don’t want,” he mentioned. “I’ve been in a position to work on that and I really feel actually good up so far. I simply have to ramp up slowly.”
Final 12 months, Senga arrived at camp seeking to construct from a powerful rookie season by which he pitched to a 2.98 ERA with 202 strikeouts in 166 ²/₃ innings.
However Senga was identified with a shoulder pressure early in spring coaching and opened the season on the injured record.
After a setback in his rehab, Senga lastly pitched for the Mets on July 26.
In that begin towards the Braves, he obtained into the sixth inning, however earlier than he might full his outing strained his left calf whereas shifting off the mound on a pop-up.
Senga’s season appeared over, however the Mets’ deep run into October allowed him the chance for a comeback.
Senga pitched towards the Phillies within the NLDS and Dodgers within the NLCS. In his three appearances, he posted a 12.60 ERA.
Senga doesn’t remorse that he gave it a attempt, even on lower than a full rehab.
“I felt good,” he mentioned. “I felt able to throw on the time.”
Senga added: “I’m glad that I used to be in a position to play there. I’m grateful that they known as on me and I used to be in a position to get in there. It’s one thing that the entire group appears ahead to and works towards for the whole season and I’m glad I used to be in a position to expertise that. Now that I’ve skilled that, I can work towards this 12 months, and staying wholesome goes to assist me push the group to our final aim.”
The Mets plan to make use of a six-man rotation, largely to offer additional relaxation for Senga, who was accustomed to such a schedule in Japan. Senga, in his first season with the Mets, was higher with the additional day of relaxation than on a traditional schedule.
“I believe what is actually essential is my well being, and if I really feel good I can throw, whether or not it’s a six-man rotation or five-man rotation, common relaxation or lengthy relaxation,” Senga mentioned. “It’s as much as the supervisor to determine when I’m going to throw. I simply must be able to throw each time they name on me.”
Senga has the identical agent as Roki Sasaki, however mentioned he didn’t take part within the recruitment of the Japanese star, who signed with the Dodgers for worldwide bonus pool cash.
The Mets had been among the many groups that spoke with Sasaki in Southern California in December.
Sasaki’s arrival provides the Dodgers three Japanese stars, becoming a member of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Senga was requested about the potential of the Mets buying further high Japanese gamers.
“In fact I might like to have some extra on the Mets, however the climate, the local weather is good [in Los Angeles], and I believe that positively performs an element,” Senga mentioned. “We have to construct a roof.”