◆Farm Rakuten Eagles 13-0 Lotte (21st, Shinrindori Izumi)

Rakuten Eagles pitcher Kenta Maeda (38) made his return to action on the 21st in a farm league game against the Chiba Lotte Marines. He started the game and pitched well, allowing only two hit and no runs over five innings while strike out three.

Kenta Maeda, who returned to NPB this season, had to leave the game against Nippon-Ham on the 7th due to a cramp in his right calf. He was removed from the active roster on the 8th. Since being removed, he has not pitched in any minor league games. This was his first time mound in about two weeks.

In the first inning, he threw a fastball in the high 140 km/h range, mixed with slider and splitter, resulting in no runs. In the third inning, he faced a infield hit with two outs and runners on first and third due to Walk and first base, but remained unfazed. He retired Tatematsu with a grounder to first. In the fourth inning, he scored a missed struck out with a fastball measuring 150 km/h, consistently marking zeros on the scoreboard with a steady pitch.

Manager Miki checked the veteran's pitch in his return to action. "He threw 60 pitches over five innings, and it seemed like he was checking various things as he pitched, and he completed five innings," he nodded.

Regarding the future, decisions will be made after checking the physical reaction of his body after pitching. "Tomorrow, I think we will proceed after checking the rebound and various other things. I have received reports that he is feeling fine after pitching today, but we will check again tomorrow," he said, looking ahead.