The New York Mets need Kodai Senga to return to form as they look to contend for a playoff berth in 2026. That appears to be the case thus far in spring training.
Senga had a dominant performance in the Mets 1-0 loss to the Marlins on Friday. He fired three perfect innings, striking out five batters while throwing 28 of his 38 pitches for strikes. Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported that Senga threw an additional 30 pitches in the bullpen after his three innings to increase his pitch count heading into the season.
While spring training statistics have to be taken with a grain of salt, there is no questioning Senga’s performance on Friday. He hit 99 mph with his fastball while throwing seven different pitch types, including a 67.8 mph curveball that he dropped in for a strike.
Kodai Senga reminding New York Mets of what he can be
Senga had been a top-of-the-rotation starter for the Mets when he made his major league debut in 2023. The Nippon Professional Baseball veteran posted a 2.98 ERA and a 1.220 WHIP over his 166.1 innings, striking out 202 batters with 77 walks. Although Senga made only one appearance in 2024 due to injuries, he was dominant again in his first 13 starts in 2025, posting a 1.47 ERA and a 1.113 WHIP over his 73.2 innings, striking out 70 batters with 31 walks.
Everything fell apart after Senga strained his calf making a play at first base on June 12. He returned after four weeks but was not close to being the same pitcher. He posted a 5.90 ERA and a 1.689 WHIP over his 39.2 innings, striking out 39 batters with 24 walks. Senga accepted a demotion to Triple-A, ending the year with the Syracuse Mets.
There is less pressure on Senga to be the Mets ace this season. Freddy Peralta has stepped into that role while top prospect Nolan McLean could stake a claim to a top-of-the-rotation spot of his own after an impressive eight start debut in 2025. However, if Senga is healthy and able to recapture his form from the first half of last season, the Mets rotation would be a more formidable unit.