Mets manager Buck Showalter opens up about Kodai Senga adapting to American lifestyle and MLB

New York Mets manager Buck Showalter, in a recent interview, spoke about Japanese star Kodai Senga's introduction to the world of MLB. Senga signed a five-year contract with the Mets in December, with a player opt-out clause in 2025 that runs through to 2027.

Senga was a professional in Japan's NPB for 11 years. He was highly successful as a pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and was part of their 'dynasty' that won seven Japan Series titles in the last decade. He's a 3x All-Star and won the Japanese Triple Crown in 2020.

With a lot of high-profile players to look after, Showalter has a lot on his plate as the Steve-Cohen owned team gear up for the regular season.

He said that the management is closely monitoring how Senga is settling into the team. More than just baseball, his acclimatization in a new country is also being looked after. Showalter said:

"I talk to him at least once a day through the interpretor about what's he seeing, what's he feeling. There's curiosity about the differences. .... More than baseball for him, it's a change in the environment too. You're constantly trying to put yourself in his shoes and what he might be thinking and how we can help him, adjust to his needs."

Showalter added that people around Senga are trying to make him feel as comfortable as possible. The Mets management has made an effort to take him to different restaurants to get him accustomed to American food.

Senga joins an elite rotation for New York who are already packed with big names like Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.

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Mets' new assistant Carlos Beltran hopeful about adding value to team

Carlos Beltran while playing for the New York Mets (Source: Getty Images)

With a massive roster and big-money players to take charge of, Buck Showalter will need all the help he can get.

He will receive some of it through Carlos Beltran, who was signed as a new assistant manager for the Metsies. Beltran was previously one of the star performers for New York in the second half of the 2000s.

"This organization is part of who I am as a ballplayer. I went through moments here that made me a better player." Beltran said on his arrival at the Mets.

Carlos Beltran was originally signed as the manager of the team in 2020. However, after his name was heavily involved in the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal, both parties mutually agreed to part ways even before a game was played.

Bringing in Beltran is part of the larger scheme of the New York management to make the Metsies world champions.