We have more news from the New York Mets camp, and this time it’s not about Pete Alonso or Juan Soto. It comes from the pitching department, and it is good news. Kodai Senga, the Japanese pitcher who made his MLB debut with the Mets in 2023, is still impressive. Since his time with the team, Senga has been part of the essential rotation for his team and recently has provided great news to feel optimistic about the future season.

Carlos Mendoza, Coach of the New York Mets, was asked many questions about his team and what they can expect this season at the AmazinDay event. There was also a big update about their star Japanese talent, Kodai Senga. After suffering from injuries all of last year and being able to start in only 1 game in the regular season, coach Carlos has some good news.

The reporter asked Carlos, “I heard you mention Kodai Senga is over in Japan and is in a good place right now. How do you anticipate him coming to camp?” After all the struggles Senga went through with injuries, he went to Japan to recover and had made a very good recovery. Now the fans want to know what to expect of him after coming back to the camp.

And this is what Coach Carlos had for the fans. He said, “Yeah, the expectation is, he will show up and ready to go, you know. We have a number of our people making a trip to Japan and visit with him, making sure that he was going through all the offseason programs and he was following. And the reports we are getting and we continue to get is that he is in a very good spot, he is in good place. Expectation is we will see 2023 Senga in 2025.”

This came as a piece of very good news to fans as they were expecting some news about their Japanese talent. The coach also talked about his expectations from the player after the return. Kodai Senga had a very good 2023 season with an ERA of just 2.98. He also had a massive number of 202 strikeouts. This shows that Kodai Senga can be a very valuable asset for the Mets if he can keep himself fit.

New York Mets pin their 2025 hopes on pitching power

The New York Mets are going to rely heavily on a deep pitching rotation for their 2025 season. The ace of that rotation is expected to be Kodai Senga, who despite an injury-marred 2024 season should return to the form that had him throwing for a 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 2023.

Complementing Senga is Sean Manaea, who recently signed a three-year, $75 million contract extension with the New York Mets. Manaea was instrumental in 2024, leading the team with 12 wins and 184 strikeouts. His durability and consistency make him a reliable asset in the rotation.

The New York Mets also have shifted Clay Holmes from closer to starter after signing him for three years worth $38 million. Holmes had expanded his mix to include the changeup, along with his sinker-slider, and then added a four-seam fastball in an attempt to improve himself against hitters.

Frankie Montas and David Peterson complete the rotation. While Montas brings experience and a solid track record, expectations surrounding Peterson’s development from last season will be high. This depth and talent in the pitching staff tip to the Mets’ strategy this season to trot out their pitching as the reason they are supposed to win it in 2025.