Hours before Monday’s game, the Mets’ clubhouse was crowded with staff and front-office execs, including president of baseball operations David Stearns, trying to get a glimpse of the team’s ace.
For the first time since suffering a right shoulder capsule strain in February, Kodai Senga took the mound to face hitters.
They were not major league hitters — the Mets called up prospects Karell Paz and Jose Hernandez from High-A Brooklyn — but it was a major step that Senga feels he passed.
Senga threw about 20 pitches, induced plenty of whiffs and said he reached the mid-90s with his fastball.
Senga is not eligible to be activated from the 60-day injured list until May 27 and hopes his official return will not be delayed much beyond then.
“As long as things keep going well,” Senga said through interpreter Hiro Fujiwara, “I think I’ll be back right around then.”
Next up for Senga are two more live batting practices every fourth day, so Friday and then next Tuesday.
If he continues to feel well and is recovering well, a rehab assignment could be in play afterward.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said that when Senga begins a rehab assignment, he will be pitching on five days’ rest — getting the extra day that the Mets usually gave Senga last season.
As for Monday’s step, Mendoza was pleased.
“The way the ball was coming out, there was no hesitation,” Mendoza said before opening a series against the Cubs at Citi Field. “He was just letting it loose, using all of his pitches.”
Mendoza did not strictly use analytical data Sunday in allowing Jose Quintana to record the final out of the eighth inning.
Quintana talked his way into staying on the mound and struck out Willson Contreras.
According to Stearns, that is the kind of feel that Mendoza owns that appealed to him during the hiring process.
“I think one of the things that made Mendi so appealing throughout the interview process was his ability to read situations — that’s both in-game and in a clubhouse with people,” Stearns said. “Understand how human beings are going to react in different situations. And I think we’ve seen that play out over the course of the first month of the season, both in terms of how he’s managing the clubhouse and how he’s managing in-game.
“This is what we expected. I think he’s doing a really good job.”
David Peterson (hip surgery) threw two perfect, five-strikeout innings with Low-A St. Lucie on Sunday.
“Came out well,” said Mendoza, who said Peterson’s fastball was 93-95 mph. “Everything’s positive.”
Peterson is set to pitch again Friday with St. Lucie.
A promising, far-off prospect was promoted.
Jonah Tong, a 20-year-old righty who did not allow an earned run in 18 innings in which he struck out 36 with St. Lucie, has been bumped up to High-A Brooklyn.
