Are the Dodgers no longer a favorite destination for the Japanese? If the last few years’ transactions are considered, the Dodgers seem to be the go-to place for the NPB players. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, and Roki Sasaki are a few Japanese players with the Dodgers. However, the tide turned when the Japanese phenom Kodai Senga opted to join the Mets. A different route compared to his contemporary countrymates. Is Senga the first Japanese to have not joined the Dodgers in recent times? 

Well, that’s not exactly the case. Players like Masataka Yoshida had joined the Red Sox, and Yusei Kikuchi first started his MLB journey with the Mariners. Hence, Senga is not the first Japanese to take a less-travelled road.

However, the Dodgers currently employ three Japanese, which is the most for any team. They are gradually becoming the first destination for the Japanese players in sailing through MLB. That made the Cubs owner Tom Ricketts say, “They have such a high profile in Japan.” Hence, the competition for Senga in the star-studded pitching squad of the Dodgers would have been higher also. 

Considering the current trend, Kodai Senga took a unique approach. But why? “East Coast is tougher, and I knew that coming into it, but at the same time, it didn’t matter to me where I just needed to play ball and give it my best,” said Senga during his podcast with the official Mets channel. For the unversed, one of MLB’s most competitive divisions is the NL East. However, it is debatable if it’s tougher than the AL East, which consists of teams of 16x World Series. Senga, though, took a different route and offered a Japanese taste to the studded Mets lineup. 

Will Senga be a valuable addition for the Mets this year?

Why should the Dodgers have all the fun? The Dodgers, with their Japanese pitching trio, are creating terror in the circuit. The Mets got Kodai Senga as a response. Senga joined the Mets in 2023 and amassed a 12-7 record, a 2.98 ERA, and 202 strikeouts across 1661⁄3 innings pitched from 29 starts. However, he started 2024 on the injured list due to his posterior capsule strain. While he returned for the postseason, Senga struggled with a 12.60 ERA with 4 strikeouts across 5 innings pitched in 3 appearances.

Back to the present, Kodai Senga is all fit to hit the field and made his debut in the spring season. Against the Marlins on Monday, Senga made two scoreless innings. What’s more is that the pitcher has developed a new tweaked slider this time that can offer enough violence to the batters. “It’s a dangerous pitch,” said the Mets manager, Carlos Mendoza. Well, Senga is looking in the spring training and is all set to throw frequent pitches. Senga is projected in the starting rotation for the Mets this year. His curve and forkball will come in handy for the team at the start.

Kodai Senga’s return to the field is a positive sign for the Mets. His hope to face the tougher East Coast will also be tested once the regular season starts. 

What do you think about Senga’s choice to join the Mets? Share your views with us below.