CLEVELAND — Kodai Senga has encountered yet another setback in his rehab from a shoulder injury. The right-handed ace is eligible to come off the 60-day injured list May 27, but after feeling tight triceps Sunday while playing catch, a timeline for a return seems even more unclear than it once did.
Senga was set to throw a bullpen Sunday at Citi Field and threw from 150 feet, but a tight tricep muscle took him off the mound and back to the doctor’s office. He did not throw a bullpen, but the Mets hope he will Tuesday.
“He went out, played catch, did his long toss, got on the mound but felt something on his tricep,” manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday at Progressive Field. “It got tight and he didn’t throw a bullpen. Doctors took a look at him. We’re not concerned — it’s a low-level concern right now. He’s not throwing [Monday] but then hopefully he throws again [Tuesday].”
A month ago, Senga looked to be on track for a June return, throwing to hitters in anticipation of a rehab assignment. But then he felt his mechanics were hindering him and took a step back to fix them. Senga cited the risk of injury — pitching with bad mechanics could lead to further aggravation and his shoulder has long since healed from his early spring training injury. The 31-year-old also didn’t want to be ineffective on the mound in games.
The Mets have continued to support him throughout the process, with president of baseball operations David Stearns saying the Japanese hurler can take all the time he needs. If there is any frustration with the time Senga needs to start the season, the Mets are not showing it outwardly.
“I wouldn’t say frustration,” Mendoza said. “We continue to deal with a unique athlete. He just doesn’t want to push it. Yesterday, he felt like it wasn’t the day for him to get on the mound and let it all out and he decided to just be patient about it. We’ll continue to work with him.”
The Mets hope he can play during the first half of the season, but they aren’t counting on it.
“It’s day-to-day with how he’s feeling,” Mendoza said. “There are days where he feels really good, and then things like yesterday come up. It’s hard to put a timetable on it.”
Left-hander David Peterson (offseason hip labrum surgery) could return before Senga. Peterson made a rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, allowing one earned run on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. Like Senga, Peterson is on the 60-day IL and eligible to return May 27.
“The reports are that he looked really good,” Mendoza said. “Velo was good, there was life on his pitches. So he’s got one more.”
Right-handed reliever Drew Smith (shoulder soreness) will throw a bullpen later this week and go out on another rehab assignment next week.
ROSTER MOVES
The Mets activated right-hander Tylor Megill (shoulder strain) from the 15-day IL Monday and optioned right-hander Grant Hartwig to Triple-A in a corresponding transaction.
Right-hander Yohan Ramirez, designated for assignment last week, was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for cash. Infielder Joey Wendle, who was also designated last week when the team started an eight-game road trip in Philadelphia, was released.
OLD FRIENDS
Former Mets reliever Tommy Hunter visited the team Monday before their opening game against the Cleveland Guardians. Hunter spent parts of three seasons with the Mets and was a popular fixture in the clubhouse throughout his tenure in Queens.
The Ohio resident officially retired over the winter and now coaches his sons in Little League.
