Kenta Maeda

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Kenta Maeda is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He was born on April 11, 1988, in Tadaoka, Osaka, and he bats and throws right-handed. As of 2025, he plays for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Maeda previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, and Detroit Tigers, after starting his pro career with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Japan.

Maeda debuted in NPB in 2008 with the Carp. He became a star there, winning the Japanese Triple Crown in 2010 and earning the Sawamura Award (Japan’s best pitcher) in 2010 and 2015. He also won multiple league honors and was an All-Star several times.

In 2016, the Carp allowed Maeda to join MLB, and he signed with the Dodgers. He won his MLB debut in 2016 and finished that season with a 16–11 record and a 3.48 ERA. Through 2019 with the Dodgers, he had a mix of strong starts and role changes, including time as both a starter and reliever.

In 2020, Maeda was traded to the Minnesota Twins. He had a standout season, going 6–1 with a 2.70 ERA and leading MLB in WHIP; he finished runner-up for the Cy Young Award. He pitched well in 2021 before needing Tommy John surgery, which caused him to miss 2022.

Maeda returned in 2023 but then signed with the Detroit Tigers for 2024. That year he struggled, moved to the bullpen, and finished 3–7 with a 6.09 ERA. In 2025 he started in the Tigers’ bullpen, but was moved to the minors and released in May. He then had brief stints in the minor leagues with the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees in 2025.

In November 2025, Maeda signed a two-year contract to return to Japan with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. Internationally, he played for Japan in events like the 2013 World Baseball Classic, the 2014 MLB Japan All-Star Series, and the 2015 WBSC Premier12.

Maeda is 6 feet 1 inch tall and about 185 pounds. He is known for a four-seam fastball in the low 90s, a reachable slider, and a changeup, throwing from a three-quarters arm slot. He lives in Tokyo with his wife and two children and has shown interest in TV appearances, including Terrace House.