Senga’s Reset: Kodai Senga Vows “Mechanical Overhaul” After Disastrous 2.2-Inning Debut .v1

QUEENS to LA — While his teammates battle at Chavez Ravine, Kodai Senga is locked in a different kind of war—a war against his own mechanics. Following a season debut on Saturday that can only be described as a disaster (7 ER in 2.2 IP), Senga has retreated into “the lab” with the Mets’ pitching staff. The Japanese ace, whose “Ghost Fork” made him a legend in 2024, has vowed a complete “mechanical overhaul” before he takes the mound again.

The concerns are twofold: velocity and deception. In Saturday’s shellacking, Senga’s fastball velocity was down nearly 2 mph from his peak, and more importantly, his forkball lacked the signature “late tumble” that makes it unhittable. Major league hitters weren’t chasing; they were sitting on flat fastballs and punishing them.

“I have to find my rhythm again,” Senga said through a translator. “The layoff was long, and my body is not moving the way my mind wants it to. We are looking at the film, looking at the stride length, and looking at the release point. I will not pitch like that again. I owe it to the fans and my teammates to be the Ghost they remember.”

The “Reset” is being supervised by pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, who noted that Senga’s “front side” was collapsing early during his Saturday start, causing his pitches to stay up in the zone. While some have wondered if lingering shoulder fatigue is the culprit, the Mets insist Senga is 100% healthy. If this overhaul doesn’t produce results in his next outing, the Mets’ rotation—already thin due to David Peterson’s struggles—will be in a full-blown crisis.