Photo Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

New York Mets Ace Kodai Senga Undergoing Further Evaluation on Arm Fatigue

Originally posted on Fastball on SI | By Sam Connon | Last updated Feb 21, 2024 2:33 PM ET

New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga is dealing with arm fatigue, manager Carlos Mendoza said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

"After his side session yesterday, he came in and experienced some arm fatigue," Mendoza said. "So he stayed inside and we're taking a look at it."

When asked asked if Senga would undergo an MRI as part of the training staff's further evaluation, Mendoza didn't have any answers beyond the fact that the 31-year-old right-hander took Wednesday off.

"We'll see," Mendoza said. "We gotta get with the trainers cause that was late, obviously. I gotta get more information, but he got on the mound yesterday and today he came in and, you know, just overall arm fatigue."

Carlos Mendoza says that Kodai Senga is dealing with some arm fatigue and that he will be getting checked out by the trainers: pic.twitter.com/PgCpPBz6SH
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 21, 2024

Senga thrived in his first MLB season in 2023, making the All-Star Game as a rookie. In addition to finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting, Senga also placed seventh in the NL Cy Young race.

The righty went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA, 202 strikeouts and a 4.5 WAR last season, serving as one of the few bright spots on a Mets team that fell well short of expectations.

Senga is set to take on additional pressure at the top of the Mets' rotation heading into 2024, considering the team dealt away future Hall of Famers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander at last summer's trade deadline. While New York did manage to replace them with veteran free agents Luis Severino and Sean Manaea – as well as Milwaukee Brewers trade acquisition Adrian Houser – the front office entrusted Senga to take over as their ace.

Before arriving in Queens, Senga was an All-Star in Nippon Professional Baseball. It took a five-year, $75 million deal to lure him out of Japan. Senga's payday likely would have been larger if it weren't for his "iffy" physical that resulted in some team-friendly contingencies being built into his contract.

It remains to be seen if Senga's arm fatigue is a sign of a more serious issue, or if he will have to spend any time on the injured list.

This article first appeared on Fastball on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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