Kodai Senga Bio
Kodai Senga, born January 30, 1993, in Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He debuted in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in 2012 with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks before signing with the Mets in December 2022. A right-handed starter known for a high-velocity fastball and a deceptive forkball nicknamed the “ghost fork,” Senga is recognized as one of Japan’s top homegrown pitchers of his generation.
Over his NPB career with the SoftBank Hawks, Senga earned three All-Star selections, five Japan Series championships, and a pitching Triple Crown in 2020. After moving to MLB, he finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2023 and represented Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, where he won a gold medal.
Early Life and Background
Kodai Senga was born and raised in Gamagori, a coastal city in Aichi Prefecture. As a young player, he took up rubber-ball baseball and played third base through middle school, developing a strong arm that would later define his professional career. After entering Gamagori High School, the team’s manager encouraged him to switch from third base to the pitching mound, convinced that his throwing quality fit the role.
Although Senga and his high school squad never advanced to Koshien Stadium for the Japanese High School Baseball Championship or the invitational tournament, his talent did not go unnoticed. The owner of a sporting goods store in Nagoya recommended Senga to Kazuo Ogawa, then the scout manager of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, suggesting him as a strong draft candidate.
Path to Professional Baseball
On October 28, 2010, Senga was selected as a developmental player by the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in the 2010 NPB draft, alongside Takuya Kai and Taisei Makihara. From 2011 to mid-2012, he sharpened his skills in informal matches against the Shikoku Island League Plus and amateur teams, and he appeared in the Western League, the NPB’s second-tier competition. On April 23, 2012, he signed a 4.4 million yen contract as a registered player under team control.
He made his Pacific League debut on April 30, 2012, against the Chiba Lotte Marines as a starter, appearing in two games that season. The transition from developmental prospect to rostered pitcher marked the beginning of a decade-long run with the Hawks organization.
Kodai Senga Career
Early Career (2012–2014)
Senga’s first NPB victory came in relief against the Saitama Seibu Lions on May 12, 2013, a moment that helped him tie the Pacific League record for consecutive no-run innings by a reliever at 34 1/3 frames. He was selected to the 2013 All-Star Game, his first of three career appearances, before a left flank strain ended his season in September. That year, he posted a 1–4 record, a 2.40 ERA, and 85 strikeouts across 51 appearances.
The 2014 campaign was curtailed by a right shoulder injury in June, limiting him to 19 games and a 1–1 record with a 1.99 ERA. He returned in 2015 to make his first start on August 19 and recorded his first win as a starting pitcher. That autumn, he appeared in relief during the Japan Series against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, helping the Hawks secure the first of his five championships.
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Breakthrough (2016–2018)
In 2016, Senga emerged as a frontline starter, going 12–3 with a 2.61 ERA and 181 strikeouts in 169 innings. His 12 wins set an NPB record for most victories by a pitcher originally drafted as a developmental player. The breakthrough cemented his status as one of the Pacific League’s most reliable arms.
Senga built on that success in 2017, finishing 13–4 with a 2.64 ERA and 151 strikeouts in 143 innings. He captured the Pacific League winning percentage title at .765 and started the opening game of the 2017 Japan Series against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, becoming the first developmental-draft pitcher to do so. The 2018 season brought a 13–7 record, a 3.51 ERA, and 163 strikeouts, and he contributed key starts in the Japan Series victory over the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, sealing the franchise’s second straight title.
New York Mets Era (2023–Present)
On December 17, 2022, Senga signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the New York Mets. He debuted on April 2, 2023, against the Miami Marlins, earning his first MLB win with 5 1/3 innings, one run allowed, and eight strikeouts. On May 17, he set a Mets franchise record for strikeouts by a Japanese pitcher with 12 against the Tampa Bay Rays, and he was named to the 2023 National League All-Star team in July. Senga finished his rookie year with a 12–7 record, a 2.98 ERA, and 202 strikeouts in 166 1/3 innings, placing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting and seventh in NL Cy Young Award voting.
Injuries defined the next two seasons. A moderate posterior capsule strain in his right shoulder forced him to begin 2024 on the injured list, and he returned in late July only to suffer a high-grade calf strain. Despite a late-season shutdown, he started Game 1 of the 2024 National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2025, a hamstring injury in June sent him to the injured list while leading the majors with a 1.47 ERA across 13 starts. He returned but struggled to a 6.56 ERA before being assigned to Triple-A in September. On April 28, 2026, he was placed back on the injured list with spine inflammation before being reinstated on June 16.
Driving Style and Strengths
Senga is a 6-foot-1, 202-pound right-hander who works from a three-quarters delivery. His fastball averages nearly 96 mph, topping out around 101.9 mph, and he pairs it with a deceptive forkball, a cutter, a slider, and an occasional curveball. The forkball’s sharp downward movement has earned it the “ghost fork” nickname in Japan, a theme reflected in the ghost-and-pitchfork graphic stitched into his glove.
Notable Events and Milestones
On September 6, 2019, Senga pitched the second no-hitter in Hawks history, the first for the franchise since 1943, a defining moment in his NPB career. In 2020, he led the Pacific League in wins, ERA, and strikeouts to capture the pitching Triple Crown, then started and won Game 1 of the Japan Series for the fourth consecutive year. With the Mets in 2023, he became the first rookie since Dwight Gooden to record 200 strikeouts in a season.
Kodai Senga Career Wins
Across NPB and MLB, Senga has established himself as a championship-tested winner. His five Japan Series titles with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, including four consecutive crowns from 2017 to 2020, rank among the most decorated stretches by a Japanese pitcher of his era.
NPB Highlights
Senga compiled an 87–44 record, a 2.59 ERA, and 1,252 strikeouts in his NPB career through 2022. His first NPB win came in relief in 2013, and he first won as a starter on August 19, 2015. He went on to anchor four consecutive Japan Series-clinching rotations and pitched a no-hitter in 2019, cementing his legacy with the Hawks.
Other Wins and Performances
In MLB action through mid-2026, Senga recorded a 20–18 win-loss record, a 3.47 ERA, and 348 strikeouts. He was an NL All-Star in 2023 and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, performances that highlighted his successful transition to the major leagues.
Kodai Senga Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Kodai Senga’s parents and family is limited. He grew up in Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture, where his early exposure to rubber-ball baseball shaped his path toward becoming a professional pitcher.
Personal Life
Senga keeps his personal life largely private, with no publicly verified information about a spouse, partner, or children. His professional focus and injury recoveries have been the primary public themes of his life off the field.
2025 Season Performance
Senga opened the 2025 campaign as the Mets’ ace and quickly emerged as one of baseball’s most dominant starters. Through 13 starts, he led the majors with a 1.47 ERA, signaling a potential All-Star-caliber follow-up to his 2023 rookie success. His fastball-forkball combination overwhelmed opposing lineups during the early months.
On June 12, Senga was placed on the 15-day injured list with a hamstring injury suffered during a victory over the Washington Nationals. The timing interrupted what had been a career-best stretch, and his absence was felt as the Mets navigated a competitive National League slate.
After returning, Senga posted a 6.56 ERA, well above his season-long form, and was optioned to Triple-A on September 5. The sharp contrast between his pre-injury and post-injury numbers defined his 2025 season and left questions about his health heading into 2026.
