Kodai Senga didn’t hesitate to respond to the “Phillies lineup” when asked which team he wanted to face

NEW YORK — Kodai Senga didn’t hesitate when asked which team he hopes to take on the mound with the New York Mets.

“Phillies lineup,” the Japanese right-hander said in English.

The Mets are equally excited about that showdown against the National League champions.

Senga was officially introduced Monday at a press conference at Citi Field after completing a five-year, $75 million deal with the Mets, who will be presented Tuesday at Justin Verlander.

The 29-year-old baseball player kicked off the press conference with a message in English to the fans: “Hi, I’m Kodai Senga from the New York Mets. I’m excited and happy to be in the Big Apple and to be with a great team. Let’s go Mets!”

“He’s got great spirit,” said general manager Billy Eppler.

Senga will carry the number 34 he previously used Noah Syndergaard Between 2015 and 2022. With the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks of the Pacific League, he used a 41-pitch retired at Queens in honor of Hall of Fame Tom Seaver. He interacted on social media with fans and asked what they thought of the number.

“I really felt a lot of passion from the fans in New York, and there were a lot of messages coming in about the number as well,” Singa said through translator Mako Albi.

Senga went 11-6 with a 2.25 ERA in 23 starts last season. After being selected as a developmental player in the Pacific League, Senga went 88-44 with a 2.59 ERA in 11 seasons. He was a three-time All-Star and five-time Japan Series winner. He twice led the league in strikeouts and threw a no-hitter in 2019.

In the Japan Series, Senga took Game 1 as a starter in four consecutive seasons.

“It was the thing that tore it apart,” Eppler admitted of Senga’s champion experience.

He also hit three scoreless innings in two innings to help Japan win gold at the last Olympics, allowing one hit and getting six innings with six walks.

Senga signed with the Colombian Jose Quintana and Verlander to replace the three Mets starters who signed with other teams in 2022: Jacob DeGrum with the Texas Rangers Taeguan Walker With the Philadelphia Phillies Chris Bassett With the Toronto Blue Jays.

Senga’s deal is part of the $476.7 million the Mets have invested in seven free agents.

In addition to Senga, Verlander, and Quintana, New York retained the defensive player Brandon Nemoto the nearest Puerto Rico Edwin DiazThey signed reliever David Robinson and reached an agreement with Venezuelan catcher Omar Narváez, who is awaiting a medical.