Kodai Senga’s 2025 Surge: Inside the Mets Ace’s Ghost-Fork Masterclass

Opening Night Return: Senga’s Ghost Fork Headlines Mets’ 4-3 Win in Miami Kodai Senga needed only two pitches to announce his comeback. The New York Mets’ right-hander, pitching in a regular-season game for the first time since July 26, 2024, scattered three hits and struck out eight over five innings Tuesday, helping the Mets edge the Miami Marlins 4-3 at loanDepot park. The outing marked a significant milestone after a year marred by a posterior capsule strain in his right shoulder and a high-grade calf strain that limited him to one abbreviated July start last season. Fastball Velocity Answers Health Questions Scouts clocked Senga’s four-seamer at a 94.9 mph max, not far from the 95-97 mph range that fueled his 2023 All-Star campaign. For fantasy baseball managers and Mets fans alike, the radar-gun readings—combined with six punch-outs on his vaunted “ghost fork”—were the clearest evidence yet that the 32-year-old is ready to reclaim his ace status. Early Jitters, Then Total Control The only blemishes came in the first and fourth innings. Xavier Edwards doubled on Senga’s second pitch, and Kyle Stowers followed with a two-run homer. Two innings later, defensive miscues by Francisco Lindor opened the door for a Graham Pauley two-run double. Outside of those lapses, Senga retired 12 of the final 14 hitters he faced, including a 12-pitch, three-strikeout third inning that had Marlins hitters waving through splitters diving below the zone. Manager Carlos Mendoza Praises Workload Plan “Other than the first two batters, he looked like the guy we saw in ’23,” skipper Carlos Mendoza said postgame. “The slider, the sweeper, and especially the split were all there. Keeping him healthy is the No. 1 priority, especially with Sean Manaea’s rehab setback.” The Mets will maintain a soft cap of approximately 85 pitches per start for Senga over the first month, aiming to build him to a full workload by late May. Lineup Gives Just Enough Support Lindor atoned for his defensive hiccups with an RBI single and stolen base, his first hit of 2025. Pete Alonso launched a 438-foot blast to dead center in the sixth, providing the decisive run. Edwin Díaz navigated a two-on, one-out jam in the ninth for his second save, pumping 100 mph heaters to seal the win. What’s Next for Senga and the Mets’ Rotation Senga is tentatively scheduled to face the Braves next Monday at Citi Field, a matchup that will test his rejuvenated shoulder against one of MLB’s most potent lineups. With José Quintana and Tylor Megill solid in their season debuts and rookie Christian Scott waiting in Triple-A, New York suddenly owns the rotational depth it lacked during last year’s injury-ravaged campaign. Fantasy Takeaway If Senga is sitting 94-95 mph this early, expect the whiff rate on the ghost fork to climb as he regains feel. He finished 2023 with a 29.1 percent strikeout rate, seventh-best among qualified starters. Managers in shallow leagues should move quickly before his next outing versus Atlanta drives up his roster percentage. Key Numbers • 8 K, 3 H, 2 ER in 5.0 IP • 14 whiffs on 29 swings (48 percent) • Six strikeouts via “ghost fork” split-finger Bottom Line Tuesday’s performance wasn’t just a win; it was proof of concept that Kodai Senga’s arsenal—and the Mets’ 2025 playoff aspirations—are very much intact.