A few weeks ago, the New York Mets signed Japanese pitching star Kodai Senga to a five-year, $75 million contract.
The former SoftBank Hawks star didn’t require a posting fee, increasing his appeal to MLB teams.
Ultimately, the Mets ended up securing his services.
He is, together with Justin Verlander and Jose Quintana, one of the new faces in the rotation for the Queens squad.
He is ready for his first experience in MLB, and actually prepared an opening statement for fans.
“In @kodaisenga‘s recent Instagram post, he shared the English note he prepared for his press conference opening statement (via IG/kodai_senga_)” SNY Mets tweeted.
In @kodaisenga's recent Instagram post, he shared the English note he prepared for his press conference opening statement 🧡💙
(via IG/kodai_senga_) pic.twitter.com/D4b0nUnst3
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) December 31, 2022
That’s actually as wholesome as you can think of from a new star entering the league.
He says he is excited to pitch in the Big Apple and join such a talented team, and closed his statement with the customary “LGM” (Let’s Go Mets).
Senga will be 30 in February, but remains very much in his physical prime.
He has an impressive fastball that can touch the upper-90s, and his secondary offerings are excellent.
He was a legitimate star last season, with a 1.94 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, and a 156/49 K/BB ratio across 144 innings in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.
His stuff is undeniably good, but some scouts have questions about the quality of his command.
His floor, however, is extraordinarily high and he should be a viable mid-rotation starter even if he can’t fully show pinpoint command.
A pitcher with a career 2.42 ERA in a league as competitive as the NPB should have the tools to succeed in MLB, even if there could be an adjustment period.
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