Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga is set to make his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the New York Mets against the Miami Marlins on Sunday, April 3. Senga, who did not initially dream of playing in the major leagues, saw it as a reachable goal as he progressed in the Nippon Professional Baseball League. With his debut game fast approaching, Senga plans to wake up his friends in Japan to watch him pitch live.
Mets Manager Buck Showalter Excited for Senga’s Debut Game
Mets manager Buck Showalter and the team are excited to see how Senga performs against the Marlins’ lineup in his debut game. Senga has had a successful spring training season, making necessary adjustments and picking up on pitch clock rules quickly. He used the opportunity to acclimate himself to a new country and learn about American baseball culture. The Mets are trying to keep their position players fresh by rotating players in and out, with Jeff McNeil being a super utility player who can play multiple positions.
Senga’s Readiness for Upcoming MLB Season
In preparation for the upcoming MLB season, Senga pitched five scoreless innings in an intrasquad game and looked ready for regular season play. He struck out seven batters, including three straight strikeouts in the first inning. Buck Showalter noted that physically, Senga felt good and threw approximately 72 pitches, including 12 or 15 split fingers. His outing on Monday was on regular rest, which will be good preparation for his first start of the year.
Adjusting to Baseball Culture in United States
For his first stateside spring training this year, Senga was interrupted by tendinitis in his right index finger caused partially by the grip of his signature splitter on an MLB baseball, which is slightly different from those used in the Nippon Professional Baseball League. Manager Buck Showalter called on Koji Uehara to help Senga with his transition to the majors in the United States. Uehara shared his experience and reassured him that similar issues did not last.
Senga refrained from throwing his splitter almost entirely in his outings since a brief mid-camp break, but will try it out again in his final preseason start. He also had a visit from Daisuke Matsuzaka, another Japanese hurler who made the jump to the majors as a highly hyped phenom with a mysterious trademark pitch.
Mets’ Expectations for Senga
Senga is scheduled to start the Mets’ fourth game of the season and make his Citi Field debut on April 8. Showalter has been pleased with Senga’s work and described him as competitive and inquisitive. Despite some initial setbacks, Senga is excited for his debut game and hopes to make it a good day and something memorable.
Possible Future Accolades
Senga is expected to be a frontrunner for the 2023 National League Rookie of the Year. With his impressive start in spring training, he has shown great potential and could become an important asset for the Mets this season.
In conclusion, Kodai Senga’s debut game with the New York Mets against Miami Marlins is highly anticipated by fans and team alike. Senga has adjusted well to American baseball culture and is ready to show off his abilities as a pitcher. With his skillset and potential, he could become a key player for the Mets in the upcoming season.
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