New York Mets fans amazed by Kodai Senga striking out batter with ghost pitch: "This guy looks pretty good eh?", "This pitch is silly" 

New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga made his Spring Training debut Sunday and wowed the crowd with a variety of superb tosses.

Senga recovered from some initial wildness to complete two innings in his first MLB appearance. He gave up one hit -- a solo home run to St. Louis Cardinals catcher Tres Barrera -- while striking out two and walking a pair in a 7-1 Mets victory.

Kodai Senga hit 98.6 mph with his fastball in a 42-pitch outing, but it was his "ghost" forkball strikeout of left fielder Jordan Walker to end the first inning that left fans awestruck.

Of Senga's first 16 pitches to start the game, only five were strikes. The first two Cardinals batters reached base via a walk, but Senga got St. Louis superstar corner infielders Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado to pop up before striking out Walker on the 83-mph "ghost" pitch. It was the only time Senga used the pitch in the outing.

The New York Mets signed Kodai Senga to a five-year, $75 million deal this offseason after he went 87-44 with a 2.59 ERA and 1,252 strikeouts in 11 seasons with the Fukoka Softbank Hawks of the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan. Mets fans are looking forward to seeing what the 30-year-old hurler can do in MLB.

Kodai Senga figures to slot in as the New York Mets' No. 3 starter this season, behind co-staff aces Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. After Senga, the Mets are likely to start the season with Carlos Carrasco and Jose Quintana as their fourth and fifth starters. However, according to CBS Sports, New York may utilize a six-man rotation at times during the 2023 campaign.

At 30 years of age, Senga is the youngest member of the Mets' current rotation. Verlander is 40, Scherzer is 38, Quintana is 34, and Carrasco will turn 36 before Opening Day.

Kodai Senga a part of New York Mets' World Series plan

Kodai Senga #34 of the New York Mets poses for a portrait during New York Mets Photo Day

The New York Mets made Senga part of their winter-long spending spree as the team seeks to win its first World Series since 1986. In existence since 1962, the Mets have two MLB championships to their name, as the "Miracle Mets" shocked the baseball world by winning the 1969 World Series after never having won more than 73 games over the team's first seven seasons.

Mets owner Steve Cohen has spared no expense to make New York a top championship contender this season, sinking a projected $355 million into the team's payroll for 2023.