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Kenta Maeda Announces He's Leaving MLB to Continue Career in Japan
Veteran right-hander Kenta Maeda announced his Major League Baseball days are over after 10 years and nine seasons.
On Wednesday, the 37-year-old pitcher announced he will continue his career in his native Japan starting next season in a long, heartfelt thank you message posted to his Instagram account. He’s most known for his tenure with the Dodgers from 2016 to ‘19 before he was traded to the Twins and finished his MLB career with the Tigers for the past two seasons.
“Playing baseball in the United States from 2016 to 2025 has been a dream come true and a decade full of unforgettable moments for which I’m deeply grateful,” he wrote. “I’m incredibly thankful for all the amazing teammates, staff, and fans I’ve met along the way, and those connections mean the world to me.
“From the very first day, everyone welcomed me and my family with such kindness, helped us when we needed it, and supported me every step of the way. Winning a division title, celebrating with champagne, competing in the postseason, and reaching the World Series—those memories will stay with me forever.”
He reached the World Series with the Dodgers in both ‘17 and ‘18. Los Angeles lost the ‘17 World Series to the Astros in seven games, where Maeda pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed just one earned run and four hits in four appearances out of the bullpen.
Maeda started 172 games with the Dodgers, Twins and Tigers and ends his MLB career with a 68-56 record, 4.20 ERA and 1,055 career strikeouts. He signed a two-year, $24 million deal to join the Tigers in ‘23, but struggled over 17 starts for Detroit in the ‘24 season before he was moved to the bullpen.
He made seven appearances as a reliever in Detroit this past season, but was designated for assignment in May after he let up seven earned runs over eight innings pitched. He signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs two weeks later before he was DFA’d in August and was picked up by the Yankees on another minor-league deal.
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Blake Silverman is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation's Detroit Bad Boys and A10Talk. He graduated from Michigan State University before receiving a master's in sports journalism from St. Bonaventure University. Outside of work, he's probably binging the latest Netflix documentary, at a yoga studio or enjoying everything Detroit sports. A lifelong Michigander, he lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, young son and their personal petting zoo of two cats and a dog.