MLB

Mets’ Kodai Senga expected to throw again ‘soon’ after recent MRI

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Published March 21, 2024, 7:43 p.m. ET

PORT ST. LUCIE — Kodai Senga is expected to begin throwing “soon” after an MRI exam in recent days revealed the inflammation in his right shoulder has subsided.

“I feel good,” the Mets right-hander said through his interpreter Thursday, hours after manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters in Lakeland, Fla., the latest imaging on Senga was clean.

The pitcher has been shut down from throwing since late February, when he was diagnosed with a moderate strain of the posterior capsule in his right shoulder.

At the time Senga received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection to help with the healing.

Kodai Senga is said to be able to throw again "soon" after his MRI exam this week.
Kodai Senga is said to be able to throw again “soon” after his MRI exam this week. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Mendoza added that Senga will undergo testing by the team medical staff to measure his shoulder strength before he begins throwing. Senga indicated he would likely begin throwing next week.

Once he begins his buildup, Senga will need at least six weeks before he can join the Mets’ rotation.

Edwin Diaz threw one inning in a minor league game for his first back-to-back outings since the 2022 season.

After struggling with his control a day earlier and walking two batters, Diaz on this day allowed one hit in his 12-pitch appearance.

“I was really pleased today,” Diaz said. “[Wednesday] I started a little bit off with my mechanics and was throwing all over the place … but today I was attacking the hitters the way I want to and commanding my pitches real good.”

Diaz said he will have a final Grapefruit League appearance over the weekend then be ready for Opening Day.

A day after he was officially named to the rotation to begin the season, Tylor Megill said he was thankful to receive the chance. Megill was selected ahead of Jose Butto as Senga’s replacement to begin the season.

Megill said creating a larger repertoire of pitches in the offseason — he worked on a splitter and cutter — helped spur his improvement.

“It seems like the big issue last year was left-handers and then, obviously, the third time through the batting order,” Megill said. “So to mix and vary with fastballs and cutters, and miss barrels and get weak contact, and go from there.”

Mets starting pitcher Tylor Megill throws during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Yankees.
Mets starting pitcher Tylor Megill throws during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Yankees. AP

Megill said he’s working to throw his splitter in the strike zone so it can serve as more than just a swing-and-miss pitch.

And the cutter is making a “big impact” against left-handed hitters.

“It’s kind of like playing that cat-and-mouse game with hitters and seeing what they want to do,” Megill said. “Hopefully [the cutter] opens the other side of the plate for other pitches.”