Kodai Senga Recovery Update Relieves Mets, Ace Steps Closer to Return Amidst New York Team’s Struggles

Despite losing all four of their initial games, the New York Mets may have found a reason to smile. The Kings of the Queens have been missing the Prince of their Mound in Kodai Senga. However, they’ve been patient and careful in what till now has been a slower-than-usual recovery. But with the team’s rotation completely on the rocks, the need for Senga is increasing by the day. And in such desperate times, the latest reports of Senga’s recovery are like a hot broth in cold winters. Soothing and lively.

The Mets’ manager, Carlos Mendoza, is growing accustomed to answering similar questions every time. The first-time skipper is constantly bombarded with questions about his ace’s return and how far his recovery has come. While the famously light-hearted man has always brought in his charm to answer this question, his latest words are sure to act as a spell that mesmerizes the Orange and Blue fanbase. 

Kodai Senga goes back and forth in an encouraging sign

“It’s a big deal,” said Mendoza when talking about his ace’s comeback. Kodai Senga’s slow and steady return to pitching has kept the Mets fans anxious. However, as Mendoza stated (per SNY), Senga is progressing relatively well. “Now that he’s letting it loose and doing it for back-to-back days, it’s another step that he has to clear,” said Mendoza.

Senga has resumed throwing since last week. However, the journey has been slow ever since that moderate right posterior capsule strain shut him down in late February. But as Mendoza revealed, Senga has just thrown on back-to-back days on Sunday and Monday for the first time. That is a major step for the ace, as it signals that he’s slowly regaining his durability.

However, Senga hasn’t yet started to pitch on the mound. All his throws have been on flat ground. So his next major hurdle is to step on the mound, as only then will Senga’s rehab assignment properly begin. Most experts predict his return somewhere in March. With Senga needing at least six weeks of ramping up, the return date falls right around mid-May.

While that’s great news for the Mets, this does mean that they’ll have to go all of April and much of May without Senga. And looking at their current form, that is a huge challenge.

The New York Mets’ pitching struggles intensify

The Mets are currently 0-4 in the season. The fact that nearly all of those losses were straightforward indicates that the team’s competitiveness isn’t quite high yet. Add to that, they’ve just lost another one of their starters, Tylor Megill. The pitcher entered the injury list on Monday after noticing some shoulder issues.

As a result, the Mets’ lineup is currently without two of its starters. For an already underpowered staff, this is possibly the worst thing that could happen. So it isn’t surprising that even the smallest of developments in Kodai Senga’s recovery generates commotion across the fanbase. But now that their ace has taken such a massive step forward, perhaps the sun is finally about to shine over the Queens.

Read more: Kodai Senga Makes Recovery Breakthrough, Team’s Ace Inches Towards Recovery Amidst Mets’ Playoff Ambitions