Dec 19, 2022; NY, NY, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga speaks to the media during a press conference at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: New York Mets-Press Conference
(New York, NY) – Around New York City, many enjoyed spring-like temperatures that could be described as warm and pleasant. Down in Port St. Lucie, Mets pitcher Kodai Senga was bringing the heat.
The right hander, who just signed this offseason after a successful career in Japan, reportedly hit 96 miles per hour on the radar gun today. It marked Senga’s first bullpen session with New York, as the team opened camp this week to pitchers and catchers. He tossed 50 pitches.
“I’m not the type to throw a lot of pitches,” Senga said through interpreter Mako Allbee. “I wasn’t the type to throw a lot of pitches in Japan either. And even within those 50 pitches, I’m not throwing super hard on all of them, probably only about half of them.
Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner remarked, “The plane is taking off.”
Senga pairs his fastball with several breaking pitches, perhaps most notably a forkball that’s been nicknamed the ghost fork. In the team’s recent Super Bowl ad, Senga was seen explaining to Mets catcher Tomas Nido, “it’s not a real ghost.” But in Japan players routinely flailed at the forkball, which earned its nickname by “disappearing” on hitters.
After pitching just once a week in Japan and surpassing 180 innings once in his career, Senga enters 2023 as a true high floor low ceiling option for the New York Mets.
