Mets pitcher Kodai Senga threw 2 2/3 innings without allowing a run on Tuesday night during his second minor league rehab start.
Out all season due to a shoulder injury, the right-hander pitched for Triple-A Syracuse against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, a New York Yankees affiliate. He threw 30 of his 52 pitches for strikes, giving up two hits while striking out three batters, walking two, and throwing two wild pitches.
Senga had his first rehab outing last Wednesday with High-A Brooklyn, pitching 2 2/3 innings without allowing a hit. He struck out six of the nine batters he faced and did not issue a walk against Hudson Valley.
Expected to be the Mets’ top starter this season, Senga has been sidelined since early in spring training with a right shoulder capsule strain.
While there is no exact timeline for his return, if his recovery continues smoothly, he could rejoin the Mets’ starting rotation by late July or early August.
“We’ll assess his progress after each rehab start, evaluate how he feels, and consider our rotation needs,” said David Stearns, the Mets’ president of baseball operations. “If everything goes well, he could return sometime after the All-Star break, although the exact timing is uncertain.”
Stearns added that upon Senga’s return, the team plans to initially use a six-man rotation, though they may occasionally adjust that plan.
Last year, Senga had an impressive rookie season with the Mets, going 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts. He struck out 202 batters over 166 1/3 innings, finishing as the NL Rookie of the Year runner-up and seventh in Cy Young Award voting.
