New York Mets fans have been waiting for Kodai Senga to make his major league debut, as the Japanese starter was a prized addition to the rotation that many considered the best in baseball.
One of Senga’s favorite pitches is one that has baffled MLB: The ghost fork. Yuli Gurriel of the Miami Marlins became a victim on Sunday afternoon.
Senga’s first strikeout of his MLB career came with a beautiful ghost fork thrown to Gurriel, who was so far in front that his bat went flying over the third base line.
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Kodai Senga, #34 of the New York Mets, looks on during the fourth inning of a game against the Miami Marlins at Depot Loan Park on April 2, 2023 in Miami. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Senga’s face said it all as he watched the bat roll down the line: It was a perfect pitch.
However, that was just what Senga needed to adapt to the game. He allowed a single to Luis Arraez and then a double to Jorge Soler scored by Arraez, who advanced on a wild pitch.
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Senga issued back-to-back walks to Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Avisail Garcia after that, but Gurriel’s strikeout turned the tide of his first outing.
Senga would go on to strike out Jesús Sánchez and get Jon Berti to the line to end the inning with just one run allowed.
Kodai Senga, number 34 of the New York Mets, throws a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the second inning of the game at LoanDepot Park on April 2, 2023 in Miami. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
The rest of the way, Senga didn’t allow a run and struck out six more Marlins in his final 4.1 innings. The bottom line for Senga read 5.1 innings with three hits and one earned run, as he walked three and struck out eight.
The ghost fork is something that will be difficult for hitters to deal with all season long when Senga is on the mound. That’s why Mets owner Steve Cohen was willing to shell out $75 million over the next five seasons for the 30-year-old.
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Senga was one of three starters the Mets added this offseason, including Justin Verlander and Jose Quintana, who are on the disabled list for now with injuries.
The Mets ended up taking this game 5-1, as another offseason acquisition, outfielder Tommy Pham, went 3-for-4 with three RBIs that included his first home run as a Met. He was a two-run bomb off Marlins starter Trevor Rogers. Jeff McNeil also added an RBI in a 4-1 day.
Kodai Senga, number 34 of the New York Mets, throws a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning of the game at LoanDepot Park on April 2, 2023 in Miami. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
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New York won the series two games to one and will head to Milwaukee to face the Brewers in their next series of the year.