Kodai Senga

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Mets #2 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Medium
  
  Track Record: A Nippon Professional Baseball developmental draft selection by Fukuoka in 2010, Senga blossomed into one of Japan's top pitchers and broke out on an international stage at the 2017 World Baseball Classic when he struck out Eric Hosmer, Andrew McCutchen, Buster Posey, Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich in the semifinals at Dodger Stadium. He became one of Japan's most highly-desired pitchers following that showing and burnished his reputation with continued dominance. He pitched a no-hitter in 2019, led the Pacific League in wins, ERA and strikeouts in 2020, led Japan to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and posted a 1.89 ERA in 2022. He exercised an opt out in his contract after the 2022 season to become a free agent and signed with the Mets for five years and $75 million in early December.
  
  Scouting Report: Senga is a power pitcher with a ready-made big league arsenal. His fastball sits 94-97 mph as a starter and touches 100-101 in short bursts with high spin rates and late explosion. He holds his velocity through his starts and has a good feel for manipulating his fastball, alternately giving it ride, sink or armside bore. Senga's best pitch is a plus-plus, mid-80s forkball nicknamed the 'Ghost Fork' for how it disappears on hitters. It jumps out of his hand like a fastball before falling off the table with late fade and dive to get wild, off-balance swings and misses over the top. Senga mostly dominates with his fastball and forkball, but he has a deep arsenal like many Japanese pitchers. His 86-89 mph cutter is a darting pitch he uses to jam lefthanded hitters and his vertical, 83-85 mph slider has a chance to be an average pitch if he improves its shape. He gets around his 77-80 mph curveball to make it slurvy at times, but when he stays on top of it, it flashes plus with power, downward action. Senga modifies his tempo and delivery to add deception but sacrifices control when he does. He shows average control when he keeps his delivery simple and straightforward.
  
  The Future: Senga has the stuff to be a No. 3 starter and can reach that potential if he refines his breaking balls and control. Even if he doesn't, he should be a quality No. 4 starter who eats innings and occasionally dominates.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Slider: 45. Cutter: 50. Splitter: 70. Control: 50

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #16 prospect in 2023

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Medium
  
  Track Record: A Nippon Professional Baseball developmental draft selection by Fukuoka in 2010, Senga blossomed into one of Japan's top pitchers and broke out on an international stage at the 2017 World Baseball Classic when he struck out Eric Hosmer, Andrew McCutchen, Buster Posey, Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich in the semifinals at Dodger Stadium. He became one of Japan's most highly-desired pitchers following that showing and burnished his reputation with continued dominance. He pitched a no-hitter in 2019, led the Pacific League in wins, ERA and strikeouts in 2020, led Japan to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and posted a 1.89 ERA in 2022. He exercised an opt out in his contract after the 2022 season to become a free agent and signed with the Mets for five years and $75 million in early December.
  
  Scouting Report: Senga is a power pitcher with a ready-made big league arsenal. His fastball sits 94-97 mph as a starter and touches 100-101 in short bursts with high spin rates and late explosion. He holds his velocity through his starts and has a good feel for manipulating his fastball, alternately giving it ride, sink or armside bore. Senga's best pitch is a plus-plus, mid-80s forkball nicknamed the 'Ghost Fork' for how it disappears on hitters. It jumps out of his hand like a fastball before falling off the table with late fade and dive to get wild, off-balance swings and misses over the top. Senga mostly dominates with his fastball and forkball, but he has a deep arsenal like many Japanese pitchers. His 86-89 mph cutter is a darting pitch he uses to jam lefthanded hitters and his vertical, 83-85 mph slider has a chance to be an average pitch if he improves its shape. He gets around his 77-80 mph curveball to make it slurvy at times, but when he stays on top of it, it flashes plus with power, downward action. Senga modifies his tempo and delivery to add deception but sacrifices control when he does. He shows average control when he keeps his delivery simple and straightforward.
  
  The Future: Senga has the stuff to be a No. 3 starter and can reach that potential if he refines his breaking balls and control. Even if he doesn't, he should be a quality No. 4 starter who eats innings and occasionally dominates.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Slider: 45. Cutter: 50. Splitter: 70. Control: 50
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Medium
  
  Track Record: A Nippon Professional Baseball developmental draft selection by Fukuoka in 2010, Senga blossomed into one of Japan's top pitchers and broke out on an international stage at the 2017 World Baseball Classic when he struck out Eric Hosmer, Andrew McCutchen, Buster Posey, Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich in the semifinals at Dodger Stadium. He became one of Japan's most highly-desired pitchers following that showing and burnished his reputation with continued dominance. He pitched a no-hitter in 2019, led the Pacific League in wins, ERA and strikeouts in 2020, led Japan to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and posted a 1.89 ERA in 2022. He exercised an opt out in his contract after the 2022 season to become a free agent and signed with the Mets for five years and $75 million in early December.
  
  Scouting Report: Senga is a power pitcher with a ready-made big league arsenal. His fastball sits 94-97 mph as a starter and touches 100-101 in short bursts with high spin rates and late explosion. He holds his velocity through his starts and has a good feel for manipulating his fastball, alternately giving it ride, sink or armside bore. Senga's best pitch is a plus-plus, mid-80s forkball nicknamed the 'Ghost Fork' for how it disappears on hitters. It jumps out of his hand like a fastball before falling off the table with late fade and dive to get wild, off-balance swings and misses over the top. Senga mostly dominates with his fastball and forkball, but he has a deep arsenal like many Japanese pitchers. His 86-89 mph cutter is a darting pitch he uses to jam lefthanded hitters and his vertical, 83-85 mph slider has a chance to be an average pitch if he improves its shape. He gets around his 77-80 mph curveball to make it slurvy at times, but when he stays on top of it, it flashes plus with power, downward action. Senga modifies his tempo and delivery to add deception but sacrifices control when he does. He shows average control when he keeps his delivery simple and straightforward.
  
  The Future: Senga has the stuff to be a No. 3 starter and can reach that potential if he refines his breaking balls and control. Even if he doesn't, he should be a quality No. 4 starter who eats innings and occasionally dominates.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Slider: 45. Cutter: 50. Splitter: 70. Control: 50