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(Port St. Lucie, FL) – New York Mets ace Kodai Senga will not begin throwing for another seven to 10 days as he deals with a posterior capsule strain in his right shoulder.
This means the pitcher’s timeline is being pushed back a bit, in terms of what was originally anticipated when Senga was first shut down in February. At that time, he also received a platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns provided an update to reporters: “Assuming all goes over the next week to 10 days we will reimage to ensure the proper healing and progression has taken place, inflammation has resolved and we’ll commence the return to throw program.”
It’s a less-than-promising development after things sounded more optimistic earlier in the week. SNY insider Andy Martino reported Senga’s progress was seen as “very positive.” And manager Carlos Mendoza also seemed encouraged.
Stearns made it clear he doesn’t feel Senga suffered any kind of a setback, despite the altered timeline: “”We have a lot of objective information to use in this process. Timeframes are often our best understanding, best suggestion and many ways the best guess at times of diagnosis. I’m always going to try and provide timeframes to you guys because I know you want them and it’s helpful. Sometimes it’s going to be shorter, sometimes it’s going to be longer. This time it’s longer than we anticipated on the front end.”
The Mets already knew Senga was going to be out for Opening Day – returning sometime in May was thought to be the target – but given the franchise’s track record with injuries and never-ending rehabs, some are surely hoping Senga’s arm just stays attached.