New York Mets team president David Stearns told reporters Thursday at spring training in Port St. Lucie, Fla. that ace pitcher Kodai Senga sustained a shoulder strain and is expected to miss opening day of the 2024 MLB season. Senga is expected to begin the season on the injured list.

Stearns said the right-handed pitcher will sit out until his symptoms from the injury are alleviated in his right shoulder. Senga, 31, underwent an MRI on Wednesday after dealing with arm fatigue and struggling with recovery after pitching bullpen sessions; he was diagnosed with a moderate right posterior capsule strain.  He is not expected to need surgery.

Said Stearns: “We are going to shut him down until these symptoms subside and strength returns to his normal levels. Once that happens, we can begin to ramp him up and go through his normal spring training progression.” Stearns, who did not provide a timetable for his return, said: “We don’t expect opening day, but I do expect him to make a bunch of starts for us this year.” 

Senga had a fantastic debut with the Mets in 2023, going 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA with 202 strikeouts over 29 starts and 166 1/3 innings and made it to his first MLB All-Star Game. The Mets signed the Japanese pitcher to a five-year, $75 million deal in December 2022.

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