Senga Looks Strong in Return to Rehab Action
After a brief injury scare earlier this week, Kodai Senga returned to the mound on Thursday and delivered an encouraging performance that should significantly ease concerns about his health.
The New York Mets right-hander had been scratched from a scheduled rehab start with Double-A Binghamton on Tuesday due to irritation in his right ulnar nerve, raising questions about his recovery progress.
Dominant Outing Over Six Innings
Making his fourth rehabilitation start since landing on the injured list on April 28 with lumbar spine inflammation, Senga showed impressive command and effectiveness against the Somerset Patriots.
He threw 75 pitches, including 51 strikes, across six innings of work while striking out five batters and issuing just one walk.
The veteran right-hander mixed in a hit-by-pitch but otherwise kept opposing hitters off balance throughout the evening. His ability to consistently throw strikes and work deep into the game was one of the most encouraging aspects of the outing.
Only One Mistake Allowed
Senga surrendered just one run and one hit during the start. The lone blemish came in the bottom of the second inning when Yankees prospect Coby Morales connected for a solo home run. Aside from that swing, Somerset struggled to generate any offense against the Mets ace.
Following a hit-by-pitch to Garrett Martin with two outs in the third inning, Senga settled in and completely dominated the remainder of his appearance.
Strong Finish Provides Encouragement
Perhaps the most impressive part of Senga’s outing was how he finished. After the third-inning hit batter, he retired the final 10 hitters he faced in consecutive fashion, displaying the sharpness and consistency the Mets have been hoping to see during his rehab assignment.
His ability to close out the start so effectively suggested that the elbow irritation which briefly delayed his appearance may no longer be a significant concern.
Important Milestone in Recovery
Although the Mets kept Senga on a slightly reduced workload compared to previous rehab outings, the start still represented an important step forward. Before Tuesday’s setback, he had thrown 91 pitches during a rehab appearance with Triple-A Syracuse on June 3.
Even with the lower pitch count, Thursday’s performance marked only the second time Senga has completed six innings in any game during the 2026 season. The first came during his season debut against the St. Louis Cardinals on March 31.
Mets Awaiting Senga’s Return
With another successful rehab appearance now in the books, Senga appears to be moving closer to a return to the Mets’ major league rotation. More importantly, he looked healthy and effective despite the recent elbow concern, giving the organization renewed optimism that one of its most important pitchers could soon rejoin the club for the second half of the season.
