Mets’ Kodai Senga diagnoses revealed, expected to start the season on the IL

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — David Stearns convened reporters in the Mets dugout at the team’s spring training complex on Thursday morning. There he provided an update on the team’s No. 1 starter, Kodai Senga, who was shut down on Wednesday after experiencing arm fatigue.

“Alright,” he readied himself, “Senga has a moderate right posterior capsule strain — so, it’s in the back of his right shoulder.”

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Stearns revealed that Senga, the Japanese ace the Mets signed for five years, $75 million last season, was “having trouble recovering from his side sessions.” Senga expressed his concern as “shoulder fatigue,” and after it happened a second time, the organization decided to send Senga for an MRI on Wednesday afternoon.

What does this mean for the Mets?

“We’re going to shut him down until these symptoms subside and strength returns to normal levels,” Stearns told reporters. “Once that happens, we can begin to ramp him up and go through his normal spring training progression.”

Senga is not expected to be ready for Opening Day. He is expected to begin the season on the injured list.

“For how long exactly,” Stearns said, “I can’t tell you right now. We’ll get more information on next step treatment options and length of shut-down, and I’m happy to share that with you guys when we have it.”

The length of time pitchers take to recover from this type of injury is on a case-by-case basis, but Stearns is certain that Senga will “make a bunch of starts” for the Mets this year. This type of injury does not require surgery, rather, it requires “rest and treatment, potentially an injection,” the president of baseball operations added.

Shortly after Stearns addressed reporters, Senga held a conference. There, he expressed his disappointment with the injury news.

“(It’s) very honorable to be a part of this rotation, that’s what I strive for,” Senga said through interpreter Hiro Fujiwara. “And, I guess It is regretful that I’m not able to be a part in the beginning of the season. But I think, I just have to be positive and look forward to being back out there with the team.”

Senga explained that the injury was caused by a “mechanical issue.”

“I was supposed to throw a certain way,” he continued, “and I wasn’t able to mimic that motion.”

Senga first experienced this type of discomfort five or six years ago, he revealed on Thursday. That’s around the time he made the transition from reliever to starter in Japan.

He expects to continue baseball activities outside of anything dealing with the shoulder — meaning, no throwing.

“Once the shoulder feels good, I’ll be on that too,” he said. “So building off of what I did in the offseason and coming back stronger.”

Stearns, and the Mets, have been adamant that they intend to use their depth should a situation like this occur. As expected, Stearns confirmed that either Tylor Megill, José Butto or Joey Lucchesi will slot in while Senga recovers.

Asked if the team would be more apt to tap into the free agent market, where 2023 NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and World Series winner Jordan Montgomery await contracts, Stearns dismissed the possibility.

Senga figures to be the team’s No. 1 starter when he returns from the IL. In 29 starts last season, he posed a 12-7 record with a 2.98 ERA, earning an All-Star nod and NL Cy Young Award votes.

Senga received the news earlier this morning.

“He’s still processing this and he’s frustrated,” Stearns said about Senga.

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Manuel Gomez may be reached at mgomez@njadvancemedia.com.