The New York Mets have several players in the World Baseball Classic.
Some of their starters and regulars are representing their countries, thus absent from camp: Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Adam Ottavino, Brooks Raley, and others.
Other players, in the meantime, are out for other reasons, like Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga.
Over the weekend, it was reported the Mets scratched Senga from his scheduled Grapefruit League start on Saturday due to right index finger soreness.
Although manager Buck Showalter said he is confident Senga will be ready to go when the season starts, it’s a concerning development.
Mets insider Anthony DiComo updated Senga’s status.
“After a couple days of rest, Kodai Senga (right index finger tendinitis) threw off flat ground this morning from about 90 feet. Didn’t appear to be max effort, but a step in the right direction. Senga is confident he’ll be ready for the season,” he tweeted.
📸 After a couple days of rest, Kodai Senga (right index finger tendinitis) threw off flat ground this morning from about 90 feet. Didn't appear to be max effort, but a step in the right direction.
Senga is confident he'll be ready for the season. pic.twitter.com/Agrq0qkWoU
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 13, 2023
Throwing off flat ground is definitely a step in the right direction, but until we see Senga facing batters or making another Grapefruit League start, we won’t declare him ready.
The owner of the ghost forkball, a brand-new pitch for MLB purposes, Senga has been a sensation in Mets camp.
His stuff is legitimate, and as long as he is healthy and his command holds, he could be a star in MLB.
He can touch the high-90s with his fastball and also throws several secondaries.
In Japan, he has a brilliant 2.42 career ERA, and it was 1.89 last year.
At 30, he is still in his prime.
There is a small chance he starts the season on the injured list, but everything points out to Senga being ready for the beginning of the campaign.
NEXT: Starling Marte Had The Perfect Return From Injury
