Former MN Twins Pitcher Going Home to Finish Career

Right now Minnesota Twins Joe Ryan is pitching like a man wanting Cy Young consideration. Of course he’s not going to win because Detroit Tigers starter Tarik Skubal exists.

Ryan is going to get votes, though, which is a feat in and of itself. Only three Twins pitchers have received American League Cy Young votes in recent years. Sonny Gray finished 2nd back in 2023, the same season Pablo Lopez got the 7th most votes.

And in 2020, during the shortened COVID season, a recent trade acquisition via the LA Dodgers jumped out of nowhere to grab second place, Japanese right-hander, Kenta Maeda.

Kenta Maeda is still in the MLB… but he won’t be for long. The 37-year-old, who is teammates with this year’s Cy Young shoe-in, Tarik Skubal, will not be pitching in the big leagues in 2026 though.

Kenta Maeda headed to Japan after 2025 season

Maeda signed a two-year, $24 million deal with the Tigers prior to 2024 and won’t be seeking another contract. Instead, he plans to finish his baseball career with Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball club. He made the announcement on TV Tokyo’s ‘Sports Real Live’ show.

“I told my family to contact me immediately if I became a free agent. Honestly, I didn’t want to go to the minors. I’m not young anymore. I had already decided that this year would be my last in America—not because I got sent to the minors. Even if by some miracle I won 20 games in the majors this year, I had decided this would be my last year in the U.S. That’s why I want to return to Japan next year. (Returning to Japan) depends on receiving an offer, so it’s not something I can decide myself. But I had already made up my mind that this would be my last season in America. That’s why I want to give everything I have here through the end of this year.”

Kenta Maeda

Related: Former MN Twins Gold Glove Winner Lands New Team

The Minnesota Twins had interest in re-signing Kenta Maeda before the 2024 season. Their pitch was a one-year deal, whereas the Detroit Tigers were willing to go two. Minnesota wound up making the smart bet as Maeda has been both bad and hurt since.

After being jettisoned by the Tigers, Maeda has made appearances at Triple-A for both the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees. Detroit used him in relief this year and he posted a 7.88 ERA (6.12 FIP) in eight innings. At Triple-A, across 16 starts, he owns a 6.25 ERA in 76 1/3 innings.

Given Maeda’s ever declining production, it’s probably best for everyone that he returns home to finish out his professional career. At his advanced age, Kenta may not be big league material any longer. Father time is undefeated. Maeda has made over $76 million during his MLB career. American success.

NPB will come for former MN Twins pitcher Kenta Maeda

Kenta Maeda pitched in the Japanese NPB with the Hiroshima Carp for eight seasons, before coming to the Major Leagues. Maeda has a 2.39 ERA in 1,509 2/3 innings with the Carp.

It’s his production in Japan that landed him the deal with the Dodgers in the first place. Unfortunately for Maeda, he’ll wrap up his time in the big leagues with exactly nine years of service time. One additional year would have landed him MLB’s maximum pension and health care benefits for life.

Related: New Milestone for MN Twins Star, Top Pitcher Joining Soon

That final Hiroshima team Maeda played on, in 2015, included current Cubs star Seiya Suzuki (20). They also employed 40-year-old Hiroki Kuroda. That one-time Dodgers hurler also returned home after seven major league seasons. The Carp would be a great landing spot for Maeda to wrap up his professional career.