Mets give update on starter’s return back from injury

Mets right-hander Kodai Senga was throwing off of the mound in the bullpen Monday afternoon as he deals with a Grade 1 hamstring strain.

Senga threw with decent intensity, just as he told reporters earlier in the say that he would.

“Yeah, I feel great,” he said before Monday’s game against the Atlanta Braves. “I’m recovering really well.”

Senga threw in the bullpen for about 15 minutes toward the end of batting practice on Monday.

“I just need to get checked in with the trainers first, but if everything checks out, I’ll be playing catch off the mound, throwing at a decent intensity. And then after that, I just need to be able to run hard and make cuts, and stuff like that.”

Senga suffered the hamstring injury on June 12 during a start against the Washington Nationals.

With one out in the top of the sixth, Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams hit a grounder to Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. Running to cover the bag, Senga reached up to grab a high toss from Alonso, touching the base with his right foot while in motion. Senga tumbled forward a few steps and grabbed his right hamstring before he fell to the ground. The 32-year-old sat with trainers for about a minute before walking off the field on his own without a limp. After the game, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed Senga would be heading to the injured list.

Senga missed all but one start last season, first dealing with arm injuries that delayed his season debut until July 26, when he made his first appearance and subsequently suffered a season-ending calf injury.

“That’s a good thing that, even right after the injury, he was able to keep the arm moving,” Mendoza said Monday. “I think he’s playing catch. I’ll see him and have more info there.”

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Bridget Hyland may be reached at bhyland@njadvancemedia.com.