PORT ST. LUCIE — Kodai Senga took a step closer to being a mainstay near the top of the Mets rotation on Sunday, as he threw 50 pitches on a back field at Clover Park.
He faced minor league hitters and a slight dip in velocity, which assistant pitching coach Desi Druschel said was to be expected in that type of environment.
Druschel, who spent the past five years coaching in the Yankees system — including the past three on the major league staff — is still getting to learn about the right-hander.
But he’s already got one aspect of Senga’s game down, and it’s one that has dominated Senga’s time with the Mets.
“He’s a perfectionist with everything,” Druschel said. “That’s probably one of his greatest assets and it’s also one of his greatest weaknesses: He wants everything to be perfect.”
It shows in his effectiveness on the mound, and it’s also occasionally evident in the time he’s missed.
After being sidelined with a posterior capsule strain in his shoulder last spring, Senga’s absence was extended because he was not comfortable with his mechanics as he was first coming back.
Druschel watched Senga’s outing Sunday and was pleased.
He pitched into the fourth inning, another positive sign, and also threw a pair of sinkers — another weapon in his arsenal to make Senga tougher against right-handers — and Druschel said they may have been his best two pitches of the afternoon.
“I think his body feels good,” Druschel said. “Now, it’s ‘Can we get the mechanics to sync up where he feels good with them?’ ”
Both Senga and Druschel seemed confident that would be the case.
But there’s no doubt Senga is more particular about that part of his game than most pitchers.
And Druschel, like the rest of the Mets, are figuring out how to get the most out of the 32-year-old, who was limited to 5 ¹/₃ innings during the regular season last year, as he was also done in by a calf injury suffered during his first start of the year.
He got back for the playoffs, but was mostly ineffective in three outings.
Druschel insisted he didn’t mind Senga’s finicky ways.
“I enjoy the perfectionism, even though it can hurt him at times,” Druschel said. “I think that’s what the best pitchers are — they want to be perfect. They have that attribute. It can help and hurt.”
It’s what led to Senga being so effective as a rookie, when he exceeded expectations and pitched to a 2.98 ERA in 166 ¹/₃ innings.
The Mets, though, will need more production from him than they got in 2024.
If this spring is any indication, Senga is on his way to another solid season, and Druschel wouldn’t change a thing.
“That’s enjoyable,” Druschel said of Senga being a perfectionist. “He’s obviously dedicated to the craft and worked hard, not only to pitch at this level, but back home [in Japan], too. It’s impressive what he’s done.”