PORT ST. LUCIE — Kodai Senga spent part of his winter at home in Japan in rehab mode, with the goal of arriving at spring training ready for a normal buildup toward the season.
On that count, the Mets right-hander is confident he succeeded.
Senga on Tuesday said he’s been “normal and healthy” since early January after missing almost all of last season with multiple ailments.
“I am not worried at all,” Senga said through his interpreter. “I just need to ramp up slowly and get through spring training healthy and pitching a lot of innings so we can go deep into the postseason.”
Senga said there’s been an element of discovery for him this winter.
“This offseason has been really great in terms of evaluating what types of movements I need and don’t need,” he said. “I have been able to work on that and I feel really good up to this point. I just need to ramp up slowly.”
Last year, Senga arrived at camp looking to build from a strong rookie season in which he pitched to a 2.98 ERA with 202 strikeouts in 166 ²/₃ innings.
But Senga was diagnosed with a shoulder strain early in spring training and opened the season on the injured list.
After a setback in his rehab, Senga finally pitched for the Mets on July 26.
In that start against the Braves, he got into the sixth inning, but before he could complete his outing strained his left calf while moving off the mound on a pop-up.
Senga’s season appeared over, but the Mets’ deep run into October allowed him the opportunity for a comeback.
Senga pitched against the Phillies in the NLDS and Dodgers in the NLCS. In his three appearances, he posted a 12.60 ERA.
Senga doesn’t regret that he gave it a try, even on less than a full rehab.
“I felt good,” he said. “I felt ready to throw at the time.”
Senga added: “I am glad that I was able to play there. I am grateful that they called on me and I was able to get in there. It’s something that the whole team looks forward to and works toward for the entire season and I am glad I was able to experience that. Now that I have experienced that, I can work toward this year, and staying healthy is going to help me push the team to our ultimate goal.”
The Mets plan to employ a six-man rotation, largely to provide extra rest for Senga, who was accustomed to such a schedule in Japan. Senga, in his first season with the Mets, was better with the extra day of rest than on a normal schedule.
“I think what is really important is my health, and if I feel good I will be able to throw, whether it’s a six-man rotation or five-man rotation, regular rest or long rest,” Senga said. “It’s up to the manager to decide when I am going to throw. I just need to be ready to throw whenever they call on me.”
Senga has the same agent as Roki Sasaki, but said he didn’t participate in the recruitment of the Japanese star, who signed with the Dodgers for international bonus pool money.
The Mets were among the teams that spoke with Sasaki in Southern California in December.
Sasaki’s arrival gives the Dodgers three Japanese stars, joining Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Senga was asked about the possibility of the Mets acquiring additional top Japanese players.
“Of course I would love to have some more on the Mets, but the weather, the climate is nice [in Los Angeles], and I think that definitely plays a part,” Senga said. “We need to build a roof.”
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