New York Mets Ace Dealing with Arm Fatigue, Team Monitoring Closely

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The New York Mets had a concerning absence on Wednesday.

Kodai Senga, who is expected to be the team’s ace this season, did not participate in team workouts. According to manager Carlos Mendoza, the 31-year-old Japanese phenom is dealing with arm fatigue and is being examined by team trainers. The Mets will have more information in the coming days, and it is yet to be determined whether he needs an MRI or not.

If this turns out to be an injury, it would be devastating to a Mets starting rotation that is a work in progress.

Senga, who played in Nippon Professional Baseball from 2012 to 2022, is in the second year of a five-year, $75 million contract. In his rookie season, he hurled 166 innings in 29 starts and compiled a 12-7 record with a 2.98 ERA. Known for his devastating forkball known as the “Ghost Fork”, Senga struck out 202 batters for an average of 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings. He ultimately finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting, getting all but five votes for second place (Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks won the award unanimously).

Thanks to his impressive rookie season, coupled with the trades of Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander at the 2023 trade deadline, Senga enters the 2024 season as the Mets’ undisputed ace. However, the team now has to hold its breath and hope that Senga’s arm fatigue isn’t anything serious.

If Senga ends up sidelined for the start of the regular season, then the Mets will have to choose between Tylor Megill, Jose Quintana, Luis Severino, and Adrian Houser to start on Opening Day.