Tohoku Rakuten announced that it has reached an agreement with Kenta Maeda pitcher (former 3A affiliate of the Yankees). Ken Maeda pitcher joined Hiroshima as the first overall pick in the 2006 high school draft. In nine years, he pitched in 218 games with a 97-67 record and a ERA 2.39 ERA, and came to the U.S. in the 2015 offseason through the posting system.

In MLB, he has three double-digit win seasons, and in 10 years, he has a record of 226 games pitched with a 68-56 record and a ERA 4.20 ERA. The veteran right-hander, who has 165 wins in Japan and the U.S. and will enter his 20th year as a professional next season, will return to Japanese baseball for the first time in 11 years.

▼ Kenta Maeda pitcher Profile ▼
・Position: pitcher
Date of Birth: April 11, 1988 (age 37)
Birthplace: Osaka, Japan
Pitching: Right-handed pitching and hitting
Height/Weight: 185cm/83kg
Baseball career: PL Gakuen High School (1st round of 2006 high school draft) -Hiroshima Toyo Carp- Los Angeles Dodgers - Minnesota Twins - Detroit The Tigers- AAA affiliate of Chicago Cubs - AAA affiliate of New York Yankees Rakuten Eagles