Kodai Senga's fastball velocity jumps in Mets spring debut

Mets pitcher hits 98.9 mph on radar gun, a positive sign after second-half struggles in 2025

Mar. 8, 2026 at 12:19am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Mets pitcher Kodai Senga showed an increase in fastball velocity, hitting 98.9 mph, in his first Grapefruit League outing of the spring. Senga allowed two earned runs on three hits with two strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings, but his improved velocity was an encouraging sign after he struggled in the second half of the 2025 season.

Why it matters

Senga's increased velocity could be a sign that he has regained his form after dealing with a hamstring injury last season that contributed to a second-half nosedive. If Senga can maintain this velocity boost, it would be a major boost to the Mets' starting rotation depth.

The details

Senga's four-seam fastball averaged 96.7 mph, up 2 mph from last season. Manager Carlos Mendoza noted that Senga was only hitting 94-95 mph at the start of camp, making the jump in velocity in his first game appearance even more impressive. Senga allowed solo home runs to Joshua Baez and Miguel Ugueto but also got Nolan Gorman to hit into a double play.

  • Senga allowed two earned runs on three hits with two strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings on March 7, 2026.

The players

Kodai Senga

A right-handed pitcher for the New York Mets who saw his velocity spike in his first spring training outing after struggling in the second half of the 2025 season.

Carlos Mendoza

The manager of the New York Mets, who noted the significant increase in Senga's fastball velocity compared to the start of spring training.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Overall, really good outing. The results, a couple of homers, but no big deal. I'm working on things and we'll continue to work on things the next outing, but overall it was really good today.”

— Kodai Senga

“Not only the 98 [mph], but his ability to spin it, too. I thought he stole a couple of strike ones with his breaking ball, but he used the fastball, he used the split. You have got 98 and got that forkball, it's pretty impressive.”

— Carlos Mendoza, Manager

What’s next

If the Mets can keep their starting pitchers healthy this spring, the plan is to deploy a six-man rotation that includes Senga.

The takeaway

Senga's increased velocity is an encouraging sign for the Mets, as they look to get the most out of the right-hander after he struggled in the second half of the 2025 season. If Senga can maintain this boost in velocity, it would be a major boost to the Mets' rotation depth.