New York Mets Provide Important Information Regarding Ace Pitcher's Health

After being sidelined for most of spring training, the New York Mets say that ace pitcher Kodai Senga is set to resume throwing next week. He's still slated for a significant absence for New York, who finished fourth in the National League East last season.

After being sidelined for most of spring training with a shoulder problem, the New York Mets say that ace pitcher Kodai Senga is set to resume throwing next week.

Per Tim Healey of Newsday on social media:

Kodai Senga is slated to begin throwing within a week, Carlos Mendoza said. He got an MRI Tuesday and doctors cleared him to begin activity. The Mets will wait until Senga passes their internal strength tests before he does so, to make sure he’s ready, Mendoza said.

Kodai Senga is slated to begin throwing within a week, Carlos Mendoza said.

He got an MRI Tuesday and doctors cleared him to begin activity. The Mets will wait until Senga passes their internal strength tests before he does so, to make sure he’s ready, Mendoza said.

— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) March 21, 2024

While that is certainly good news, Healey later added that he'll need at least a six-week ramp-up period, so it's entirely possible we don't see Senga until mid-May or even June.

It's a brutal blow for the Mets, who are in a step-back year this year, but if they were going to contend, Senga would be a huge reason why.

Senga came over to the Mets a season ago after a lengthy career in Japan and paid immediate dividends. The 31-year-old made 29 starts and was named an All-Star in the National League. He finished 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA, placing second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting and seventh in the Cy Young race.

The Mets will be starting veteran lefty Jose Quintana on Opening Day in his absence.

Senga is not the only pitcher around baseball to start the year on the shelf. Kyle Bradish and John Means (Orioles) will begin the year on the injured list, as will Toronto Blue Jays' pitcher Alek Manoah.

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