Senga's Spring Debut: Mets Win, Pitcher Shines

0:00On this March 8th, here's what's making headlines for the New York Mets. Kodai Senga made his spring training debut for the Mets against the Cardinals on March 7th. The right-hander touched 98.9 mph with his four-seam fastball and averaged 96.7 on it. Despite the strong velocity, he gave up two solo home runs over two and two-thirds innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits. The Mets still pulled out a three-to-two win. Senga threw 50 pitches in the outing, peaking higher than expected early in camp. His fastball showed more zip than last season, and he mixed in his fortball effectively at times. He even induced a double-play to escape trouble in the first inning. Manager Carlos Mendoza raved about Senga's sharpness and health after the game. He noted the pitcher's spin on the ball, and how he stole some strikes with his breaking stuff. Senga himself called it a solid day overall. Brushing off the homers as no big deal while focusing on improvements. Last year, Senga struggled in the second half after a hamstring injury sidelineed him.

1:04His performance dropped sharply following a strong start with a 1.47 earned run average into mid-June. He spent time in triple-A Syracuse to work things out. Mechanical tweaks have boosted his velocity this spring, and Senga feels back in form. He's open to pitching on regular rest, and a potential six-man rotation if the mets stay healthy. Mendoza also sees a more relaxed Senga, smiling more around teammates and full of confidence. Support for this episode comes from our sponsor. See the description. Your favorite podcasts, music, or sleep sounds coming from your pillow. No earbuds, no distractions, just listen and relax. S-O-L-I-S-O-L-Pillow.com