Sep 27, 2023; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) drops a rosin bag during the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Game Two-Miami Marlins at New York Mets
PORT ST. LUICE — The New York Mets announced on Thursday that they are prepared to begin the season without starting pitcher Kodai Senga. The right-hander underwent an MRI exam on Wednesday that revealed a ‘moderate strain’ in his right shoulder.
President of baseball operations David Stearns said he expects Senga, who has been shut down from throwing, to begin the season on the injured list. The Mets have stated it’s unclear how much time the 31-year-old will miss.
But perspective is coming in from the medical community. Dr. Jesse Morse posted a four-minute long video on “X” thoroughly explaining Senga’s shoulder injury.
“At the minimum they need to shut him down for a month,” Morse said. “The problem is when they start to ramp him back up….If he has a flareup, they are stuck.”
The Medicine Physician has accumulated over 240,000 followers across his social media pages.
“If he was my patient…I would shut him down for 3-4 weeks. And then I would have him do a lot of high level physical therapy. I do not think he’s going to be ready to throw until June.”
The June timeline would mean Senga misses over two months of the regular season. Morse concluded by saying:
“Some clarification: Most realistic scenario. He’s shut down Feb 22 – March 22. Ramps up March 22 – April 15. Throws 3-4 minors games. No setbacks, then he returns in early May. Any setbacks where he has to slow down his rehab, then June becomes more realistic.”
As for the Mets, they don’t seemed as concerned. Shocker.
“What I can say at this point comfortably is we don’t expect Opening Day, but I do expect him to make a bunch of starts for us this year,” Mets president David Stearns said in front of reporters on Thursday. “This is not a surgical type problem.”
Stearns added that Tylor Megill, Jose Butto and Joey Lucchesi are the primary candidates to replace Senga for the start of the season. Despite Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery and Trevor Bauer still available, the Mets president downplayed the possibility of adding a free agent arm.
“We’ve got plenty of options. I am looking forward to watching that competition in camp and I am confident we will have guys step up.”
Senga, who avoided the injured list last season, threw 166.1 innings over 29 starts during his rookie season. But at the time of his signing there was some level of concern with his elbow following a physical.
For now? It marks the third straight season the Mets have dealt with major spring training injuries.
Last year, Edwin Diaz suffered a devastating knee injury celebrating a win at the World Baseball Classic – missing the entire season. And in 2022, Jacob deGrom had elbow discomfort following his first Grapefruit League appearance and didn’t pitch again until August.
