Mets’ Kodai Senga making progress in rehab for hamstring injury

If we learned anything last year, it was to not look too far ahead when it comes to Kodai Senga returning from an injury. 

But there were signs of progress on Monday, as Senga played catch off a mound for the first time since he strained his right hamstring during a start on June 12. 

The right-hander, who was limited to just one regular-season outing a year ago due to shoulder and triceps issues and then a strained calf, said through an interpreter Monday that he felt “great” before throwing in the bullpen with some intensity. 

He’s been able to continue throwing after his latest health setback, which gives the Mets cause for optimism that Senga will avoid the lengthy absences of a year ago, when issues with his mechanics kept him out for most of the season. 

“As of right now, I’m not concerned at all,’’ Senga said when asked about those mechanics. “As things progress and I throw harder, mechanics will be more important. I have to continue to be careful.” 

And he also stressed the importance of communication between him and the team. 

“Conversations are very important,’’ Senga said. “We’ll take it day by day. Some days I’ll push further and others I’ll take a step back.” 

Senga said Monday he doesn’t remember exactly what caused the hamstring strain when he was covering first base and had to lunge for a high throw from Pete Alonso. 

“When I came down, the general area was painful,’’ Senga said. 

At this point, the focus is on getting him back into a rotation that’s also without Tylor Megill, who suffered an elbow sprain just days after Senga went down, as well as Sean Manaea (oblique) — although Frankie Montas is scheduled to make his first start of the season on Tuesday after dealing with a lat strain. 

Senga added that he next needs to be able to run at full speed and make cuts before beginning a likely rehab assignment. 

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Carlos Mendoza, who saw firsthand the stops and starts that plagued Senga a year ago, was encouraged by his progress this time around. 

“The good thing is he kept throwing even right after the injury,’’ the manager said. “Now he’s already on the mound, letting the ball go with some intensity is a good sign … not even two weeks [later].” 

Prior to the season, Senga expressed a goal of tossing 162 innings, which would be in line with the 166 ¹/₃ innings he threw two years ago as a rookie. 

At 73 ²/₃ innings this season, that number might be out of reach. 

“It’s more difficult, but depending on how I perform in the later part of the season, maybe it will seem attainable,’’ Senga said. “It’s more important I get healthy, get back on the field and throw as many innings as possible.”