What’s A “Ghost Fork” Pitch Thrown By Kodai Senga That Impressed Mets?

Japanese right-hander Kodai Senga may be the most fascinating of the several players the New York Mets have added this summer.

Nick Martinez warned his colleagues before the United States’ knockout round match against Japan at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Martinez, now a prominent bullpen pitcher for the San Diego Padres, advised them to refrain from swinging at the fork. Martinez was making reference to Japanese forkball inventor Kodai Senga, also known as the ghost fork.

What’s A “Ghost Fork” Pitch Thrown By Kodai Senga That Impressed Mets?

The five-time Japan Series winner was signed by the Mets to a five-year, $75 million contract in December to serve as the group’s third starter. If he succeeds, New York may have a third ace in its rotation, but there’s no assurance that he’ll adjust well to life in Major League Baseball.

Senga completed his first spring training bullpen session last week with 52 pitches. Although reaching 96 MPH on the radar gun, it wasn’t his best performance since he’s still getting used to the feel of MLB baseballs. On Sunday the outcomes were different against live batters.

Facing off against his new teammates, including SS Francisco Lindor and first baseman Pete Alonso, Senga unleashed his patented “ghost fork” pitch.

Named for its incredible downward movement, the “ghost fork” is more of a splitter than a forkball based on the pitch’s grip, although it’s considered a forkball in Japan.

“First day of school, and he looks really good,” Lindor said of Senga’s first time competing against batters in spring training. When asked if he saw Senga’s forkball, he joked, “No, I didn’t see it because it’s a ghost ball.”

Alonso, who struck out twice against Senga, once by way of the “ghost fork,” provided his assessment of the pitch.

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“I don’t really have anything to base it off of; it’s like its own pitch. It’s a pretty good one,” said Alonso. As for the pitch’s shape, he couldn’t quite describe it, “I don’t know. That’s why it’s the ghost pitch.

“I’m happy I don’t have to face him, that’s for sure. I’m happy he’s on our side,” Alonso added.

Senga’s pitching arsenal also includes a four-seam fastball, cutter, and slider in addition to his forkball. Although he has thrown a curveball in the past, it could not be in his toolbox in 2023. His fastball reached a peak speed of 101 MPH during a start last year.

Senga, 30, pitched for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball in 2022 and had a 1.94 ERA with 156 strikeouts in 144 innings.

He will join potential Hall of Famers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, as well as seasoned pitchers José Quintana and Carlos Carrasco, in the Mets’ freshly assembled rotation. Tylor Megill and David Peterson, two young arms, will probably also play a part.

On March 30, the Mets play the Marlins in Miami to start the season.

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