Mets provide crucial update on Kodai Senga’s hamstring injury

The New York Mets received some good news on Kodai Senga after the ace was placed on the 15-day injured list following a right hamstring injury. Senga, who sustained the injury while covering first base during his start against the Washington Nationals, underwent an MRI on Friday. The results revealed that he had suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain, which is the least severe variety, offering a sense of relief to a Mets rotation already dealing with multiple injuries.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza shared his optimism following the MRI results. “We feel like it’s relatively good news here,” Mendoza said after the Mets’ 7-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, according to MLB.com. “It’s a low grade.” he added.

“Hopefully he’s symptom-free, and we’ll get him back up again,” Mendoza said, acknowledging that the road to recovery could be lengthy. Senga will require time to ramp back up before returning to the Mets’ rotation, making it likely that the team won’t see him for at least a month.

Senga’s injury and recovery timeline

After the injury, Senga will be shut down for two weeks to allow for rest and recovery. After the two-week period, the Mets will reassess the situation and decide on the next steps.

Kodai Senga #34 of the New York Mets leaves a game during the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals after an injury at Citi Field on June 12, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Senga will need additional time to ramp back up before returning to the Mets’ rotation, which means it could be at least a month before he’s back on the mound.

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Reflecting on Senga’s Injury History

Senga’s injury history remains a concern for the Mets, as the right-hander has been sidelined five times over the last four seasons, with three of those instances involving back issues. However, when healthy, he has proven to be a reliable and effective starting pitcher. In 2024, before suffering another back injury, Senga posted a 2.76 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP before the All-Star Break.

“Now that we’ve gone through it with the athlete, with Senga, I’m pretty confident [in] the communication, the feedback from him,” Mendoza said, noting the positive strides the team has made with Senga’s rehab process. “We’ll continue to listen to him. He’s very meticulous about what he does, whether it’s rehab, his mechanics, the throwing program. So I feel like we’re in a good place, and I’m not anticipating any issues here.”

Mets’ rotation depth tested

With Aaron Nola sidelined due to a stress fracture and Taijuan Walker transitioning into a one-inning reliever role, the Mets are feeling the pinch in their rotation depth. However, some pitchers have stepped up, including Clay Holmes, who delivered five solid innings against the Rays. Holmes’ transition from a reliever to a full-time starter is still in progress, and the team is managing his workload carefully.

David Stearns, the Mets’ president of baseball operations, emphasized the importance of aligning with Senga throughout the rehab process. “Particularly Senga, he wants to be involved in the [rehab] process,” Stearns said. “I think it’s important that we get on the same page as him from the jump, and that we’re all bought into what this process is going to look like.”