◆ Pacific League Rakuten Eagles vs. Softbank Hawks (31st, Rakuten Eagles Mobile)

Rakuten Eagles Kenta Maeda pitcher (37) started the home opener against on October 31. It was the first time he had been up in Japanese baseball in 3828 days since his time at Hiroshima on October 7, 2003 (Mazda). Softbank Hawks mound Chunichi

On this day, it was raining in Sendai from the morning. However, by the time the match started at 4:01 p.m., it had stopped. Fans in Tohoku, who had been eagerly awaiting the start of the season, cheered for Ken Maeda. The right-hander, who has 165 wins in Japan and the U.S., said on the 30th, "This is my first appearance here in Tohoku since joining The Eagles. I hope I can show everyone a good time. Kenta Maeda I hope to make a good showing so that people will know about pitcher," he said.

First time. The first pitch to Shuto was strike at 133 km slider in the outside corner. When he hit a ground ball on the second pitch, No. 2 Kondo swung struck out with a slider from full count. The fastball he threw for the first time on the second pitch of the day measured 151 km on the second pitch of No. 3 Yanagimachi, and finally finished it with two grounders with a curve. In the first inning, 12 of the 13 pitches were breaking ball.

He had a 0-0 record with a 3.18 ERA in three exhibition games. In the game Seibu Lions on the 17th of this month (at Belluna Dome), he delivered a masterful pitch strike out six innings, allowing only one hit and no runs while striking out six. In a minor league game on the 24th where he made a tune-up appearance, he gave up six runs in the middle of the third inning, but he said, "I'm perfectly prepared. I'll be in great shape for my own opening day," as he approached this game.

Last season, after leaving The Tigers, he signed a minor league contract with the Cubs in May and played for the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, Scranton, from August. After the season ended, he announced his intention to return to Japanese baseball in 2026. After a bidding war among multiple teams, including The Giants and Yakult he decided to join Rakuten Eagles. He chose number "18" for his uniform, inheriting it from Masahiro Tanaka (currently The Giants), a teammate of his age who played for the team until 2024.

At his signing press conference last December, Kenta Maeda stated, "I am prepared to end my career with Rakuten Eagles. I didn't choose this team half-heartedly." The final chapter of baseball career has now begun.

◆ Kenta Maeda: Born April 11, 1988, in Osaka Prefecture. Age 37. Played in Koshien in his first year (summer) and third year (spring) while attending PL Gakuen High School. Drafted in the first round of the 2006 high school draft by the Hiroshima Carp. Moved to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2015 offseason. Played in MLB until last season. Represented Japan in the 2013 WBC and the 2015 Premier12. Two-time Sawamura Award winner, two-time most win ERA strike out three-time Best Nine selection, and five-time Golden Glove Award winner. 185 cm, 83 kg. Right-handed pitcher, right-handed batter. Estimated annual salary this season: 150 million yen.