The 2026 season will be huge for Kodai Senga.
After the Mets right-hander burst onto the scene in 2023, quickly becoming the team's best starter and earning Rookie of the Year votes, the next two years were marred by injuries and ineffectiveness, especially in 2025. After starting the year looking like he did during his rookie campaign, Senga suffered an injury in June that derailed his season.
Senga never returned to his dominant form and became ineffective on the mound and off the field. The right-hander was simply unhappy with his mechanics to the point where the Mets sent Senga to the minors at the end of the year. Trade rumors swirled this offseason, but Senga is still in a Mets uniform and hoping to put those issues behind him.
Making his spring debut on Saturday, Senga pitched 2.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits (two homers) while striking out two batters.
"I feel very good, felt very good. Been able to attack all the things I wanted to work on from last year," Senga said after his outing via an interpreter. "I think that’s flourishing now."
The most noticeable aspect of Senga's start was his velocity. According to StatCast, Senga topped out at 98.9 mph and his average velocity was 96.7 mph. The 33-year-old said that's a result of him feeling good physically and with his mechanics.
"It’s clear when I’m not feeling great, the velo doesn’t tick up like that," Senga said. "It’s clear the velo wasn’t there [last year], too. But like I said, I feel good. I’m content with where I’m at. Obviously, there’s still some work to do, but overall I’m happy."
Senga said he used his first spring start to work on some things and the two solo homers were a result of that, and "no big deal" to the starter. He said he'll continue to use this spring to work on some things, especially getting acclimated to the changes in his mechanics. Senga wasn't willing to go in-depth with the adjustments -- not yet, at least, because the explanation "can get long" -- but reiterated its importance to how he pitches.
"That’s the most important thing, the mechanical changes that I’ve made," he said. "Battling back from the injury in 2024, getting myself, getting my body back to where I need to be so I can perform. I feel like I’m there now."
In 2024, Senga started the season on the IL with a shoulder strain and when he finally returned in late July, he suffered a calf strain in his first start, which knocked him out until the postseason.
While it's just one spring start, Senga understands that MLB is all about evolution and adjustments. He's approached this offseason with that mentality and continues to attack this spring, preparing himself to be a "new" Kodai Senga.
"I know my body is different from where it was three years ago, now. I’m not really trying to get back to that," Senga said. "It’s a new me and trying to find new mechanics."
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza spoke about that "different version" of Senga prior to Saturday's start and that new mentality is encouraging for the skipper. Part of that new mentality is Senga's self-awareness. And with accomplished vets like Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes in the rotation, and youngsters in the form of Nolan McLean, Senga's spot is not guaranteed and he needs to constantly make himself better.
"In this industry, you either perform or you don’t. I haven’t proven anything over here," Senga said. "Keeping that in mind, I was able to spend a good, productive offseason and here I am."
