New York Mets Ace Kodai Senga Shut Down With No Timetable To Return
Port St. Lucie - The vibes were high down at spring training at the New York Mets' first official week of camp - until they weren't.
On Thursday, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns delivered disappointing injury news regarding Japanese ace starting pitcher Kodai Senga, who is being shut down due to a moderate right posterior capsule strain behind his shoulder.
For now, the Mets have no clear idea of how long Senga will be sidelined from throwing, but the expectation is he will begin the regular season on the injured list. While Stearns does not yet know how long this IL stint will last, he still expects Senga to make a significant amount of starts for the Mets this season. Senga will not be able to resume throwing until his symptoms subside.
But there is no sugarcoating this injury, the loss of Senga is a major blow for the Mets' rotation after the organization opted against bringing in another top starter during the offseason. Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery are still available, but they are out of the Mets' budget range given the hefty tax they would have to pay on every dollar spent.
Senga first reported his shoulder discomfort after being unable to properly recover following his last two side sessions. This led to the Mets' decision to send him for an MRI, which revealed his shoulder strain.
Senga is coming off his first season in the big-leagues, where he shined and finished as the runner-up for National League Rookie of the Year. His absence will send a ripple effect throughout the Mets' rotation, which now features Jose Quintana, Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, Adrian Houser, and possibly Tylor Megill now that Senga will be on the shelf. The Mets also have Joey Lucchesi and Jose Butto as potential replacement options as well, but they will be missing their ace, Senga, for at least a portion of time. How long is unknown.
While the loss of Senga is substantial, Stearns does not foresee a scenario, where the Mets bring in outside help to compensate. And as for the young starting pitching prospects, who could find their way into the majors this year, Stearns wants to see them pitch in the minor leagues this year before opting to call them up.
The initial hope around the Mets is that Senga's injury won't keep him out too long once the regular season begins. But if that is not the case, it is hard to envision starting pitching being an area of strength in 2024.
An additional sliver of hope is that Stearns is currently confident that rest and treatment will fully heal his prized ace, as opposed to surgery.
