What Kodai Senga has Picked up From Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander
PORT ST. LUCIE - Japanese starting pitcher Kodai Senga is still adjusting to his first MLB spring training, but luckily he has two future Hall of Fame teammates to lean on for advice.
According to Senga, who threw his second live batting practice session of camp on Thursday, he has spent a lot of time in camp speaking with co-aces Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.
"In the locker room we try to communicate with each other and I'm able to spend a lot of good quality time with them," Senga said.
Specifically, Senga says Scherzer and Verlander have been teaching him about how to pitch in a five-man rotation, something the 30-year-old didn't do in Japan.
"They gave me a lot of advice on the five-man rotation, which is going to be different than what I'm used to over in Japan," Senga said.
"They have also been teaching me how they prepare for their next game when they throw their bullpen in between their starts."
In Japan, Senga pitched once a week. Now, he will be relied on every fifth day, which is something he is going to have to adjust to.
It helps that he has two future Hall of Famers to seek out for advice on how they prepare themselves.
So far, Senga is off to a solid start in his first big-league spring training. And although he mentioned the slope and baseballs being different as things he needed to get used to, he revealed that these factors are no longer an issue for him.
For now, it has been smooth sailing for Senga, who has utilized both Scherzer and Verlander as resources early on.
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