Kodai Senga cleared by doctors; Mets detail next steps
Kodai Senga has cleared a big hurdle as he works his way back from a moderate right posterior capsule strain, with the Mets ace being cleared by doctors to throw.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said on Thursday that Senga is "feeling great," and that the re-imaging of his shoulder was "very, very encouraging."
"Inflammation is gone," Mendoza said. "So he's pretty much cleared from the doctors. And now it's up to our internal testing, making sure he passes all the power tests, the shoulder strength, and things like that before he starts a throwing program, which should happen within the next week.
"But everything is good, clear. Once he's passed all of our internal testing, he'll begin a throwing program."
Speaking on Thursday afternoon, Senga said "I feel good. I feel ready," via MLB.com's Anthony DiComo, adding that he expects to start playing catch within the next week.
The Mets said on March 15 that Senga would not start a throwing program for another week to 10 days, and news that he has been cleared to throw and simply needs to pass the team's internal tests before doing so roughly matches that timeline.
Last week, SNY’s Andy Martino reported that the word on Senga’s health was “very positive.”
The expectation when Senga was diagnosed was that he could possibly return at some point in May.
If he begins his throwing program within the next week as expected and requires a roughly six-week buildup before being back in big league games, a May return feels like a realistic outcome.
