Japanese baseball sensations are the talk of the town. After Shohei Ohtani‘s heroics, there is also the New York Mets’ Kodai Senga and his ghost forkball. A phenomenal player, the pitcher has been stuck on an underperforming team. Given the Mets, including Senga, have been going through a prolonged slump this year. But his latest outing proved to be a brilliant one. And making the moment even more special were some unexpected guests in the stands.
Unlike Ohtani, hailed as Japan’s Babe Ruth, Senga is not as heavily featured on national television back home in Japan. Many a player from the Asian country have made waves in MLB but as of 2023, Senga and Ohtani are the most talked about. And as the Mets clinched a stunning victory against the Chicago Cubs yesterday, the Japanese ace shone brightly.
Kodai Senga’s Kids Make an Appearance During Spectacular Pitching Display
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The game was delayed due to the rain but the Mets still managed to win an overwhelming 11-2. The light shower even caused a scary moment where it seemed like Senga would be injured.
He was on the mound, warming up before the start of the seventh inning when he landed on his left leg wrong. It slipped and skidded until the pitcher was finally able to regain his balance with his right leg.
Kodai Senga pitched in front of his son and daughter tonight at Citi Field for the first time since he came to the US. His starts are rarely shown back home on Japanese TV.
"I didn't want to embarrass myself in front of them," quipped Senga, who threw six quality innings.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 8, 2023
Although manager Buck Showalter took him out of the game, he didn’t appear to be injured. If he had, it would have been a disappointment for the special guests – Senga’s kids. According to MLB insider Anthony DiComo, it was the first time the Japanese ace’s family had witnessed him play live in the US.
Apparently, his starts in Mets games are rarely shown on television back in Japan. And the pitcher had a hilarious reason to not let them or his son and daughter watch him play. “I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of them,” he told DiComo.
Fans had been impressed by his display in the six innings he played but most couldn’t believe the fact that Senga had kids in the first place.
New York Mets Fans Are in Disbelief Over Senga’s Family
Not much is known about the Japanese player’s family and personal life, except for his upbringing. So naturally, fans were shocked to learn of his kids, much less that they only attended his first game in August, after half the season was over.
@you22647355 I had no idea he had kids! But I did notice when I was in Tokyo that Senga didn’t get a lot of attention, of course not like Ohtani but even not as much as Yu Darvish
— Alberto (@RusticT13) August 8, 2023
Kodai has KIDS?!?!
— Santo (@santo_nunnari) August 8, 2023
HE HAS KIDS??
— Callouts (@CalloutsLFGM) August 8, 2023
Some wanted him to stay a Mets player for life.
Kodai senga is MY ace
— KnicksTapeSzN🗽🌃💫 (@TapeSzn) August 8, 2023
I hope Senga is a met for life
— Exceed (@TBExceed) August 8, 2023
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He's a keeper
— Mark L (@MarkBurgh) August 8, 2023
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The All-Star has had some trouble this season but hopefully, his performance improves, along with his team’s. Wouldn’t it be something to boast about back home then!
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