Mets' Kodai Senga's 'body feels great' after successful Triple-A start
Mets injured ace Kodai Senga made his second rehab start on Tuesday night while pitching for Triple-A Syracuse and did well as he continues to try and return to the majors this season.
Capped with a 50-55 pitch limit, the right-hander managed to go 2.2 innings and didn't allow a run while giving up two hits, walking two and striking out three on 52 pitches (30 strikes). He also threw two wild pitches.
"I think first and foremost I was able to throw healthily so that was good," Senga said about his outing, through a translator. "I have no issues with my arm, it feels great, body feels great so it’s a big plus."
Facing Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Yankees Triple-A affiliate, Senga was in immediate hot water after Oswald Peraza led off with a double. Senga got through the inning unscathed, though, helped out by his defense as Peraza was thrown out at home.
The 31-year-old went back out for the second inning staked to a 3-0 lead and threw up another zero. But it was the third inning where Senga lost some control.
At 28 pitches through two innings, Senga needed just 10 pitches to retire the next two hitters, but was unable to close out the inning after that. He walked two batters and uncorked two wild pitches before exiting the game.
Reliever Max Kranick got the final out of the frame.
The next step for Senga, who admitted after the game that it's been a "learning experience" rehabbing in the United States, is to recover from his outing before getting back on the mound for a third rehab start.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said on Tuesday that he doesn't know when and where that next start will be and he'll need to have a conversation with Senga before confirming.
"I think it’s something that will be decided in a couple of days," Senga said, reiterating his skipper's comments. "Obviously I’ll get checked out tomorrow at Citi Field and take it from there."
