In Japan, Kenta Maeda notices a lot of the Old English “D” on jerseys and caps.
“That’s a pretty cool-looking logo,” he added. “I think a lot of people in Japan are already wearing hats and jerseys not knowing it’s the Detroit Tigers, just for the looks.”
Maeda spoke from Japan via translator Daichi Sekizaki at a Zoom news conference Thursday night (Friday in Japan) after signing a $24 million, two-year contract with Detroit this week.
Maeda, a right-handed pitcher who will turn 36 on April 11, has spent the last three years with the Minnesota Twins. In his return from Tommy John surgery on September 1, 2021, he was 6-8 with a 4.23 ERA in 20 starts and one relief appearance this year.
“It was more like a gut feeling of mine to choose Detroit,” he told me. “There’s a young core of very talented prospects up and rising, so as a pitcher on the opposing team, if I had to choose one team that I would not like to face, it’s Detroit.”
He is unfamiliar with the city.
“Because the team hotel is far from the field, I never got to know Detroit very well.” “I’ve only hung out in the hotel area,” Maeda explained. “As a result, I’m looking forward to seeing what Detroit has to offer.” But it appears that there is a large Japanese community, which is a plus, with all the restaurants and grocery stores.”
According to the two-year contract negotiated by agent Scott Boras, Maeda will earn $14 million next year and $10 million in 2025.
“One scoop of Detroit is great but two scoops is a lot better,” Boras was quoted as saying. “He has a lot to offer to a core of a building team.”
After Masao Kida in 1999 and 2000, and Hideo Nomo in 2000, Maeda will be the Tigers’ third Japanese pitcher. He’ll wear No. 18, the same number he wore with the Twins, Dodgers, and Hiroshima Toyo Carp in the past. Maeda’s jersey number was written into his Dodgers contract — the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants gave their ace No. 18, which has been worn in the major leagues by Daisuke Matsuzaka, Hisashi Iwakuma, and Hiroki Kuroda.
The last time Detroit won the World Series was in 1984. The Tigers won the American League pennant twice before falling short in 2006 and 2012. They haven’t won a game since 2016 and haven’t made the playoffs since 2014.
“I want to bring a championship ring to Detroit,” Maeda said in a statement.
Maeda completed an eight-year contract with the Dodgers that included a $25 million guarantee and $81.2 million in potential innings and roster bonuses.
“After the eight-year contract, I just wanted to see what my market value in MLB was,” he told ESPN.
Maeda’s velocity improved throughout the season as his arm recovered from elbow surgery and then a strained right triceps that kept him out for about two months until late June. In April, his fastball averaged 89.9 mph, and in September, it averaged 91.1 mph.
“It was a bit surprising to see how well I felt after an outing, coming off the IL,” he told reporters. “I think just cleaning up my mechanics helped as well.” So I’m not concerned about my arm.”
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