After signing an eight-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Japanese native Kenta Maeda revealed there were some irregularities in his right elbow, but expressed little concern over the matter.
Maeda pitched well during Spring Training and had quite the Major League debut — throwing six scoreless innings and contributing with a solo home run. He went 3-0 with a 0.36 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 25.1 innings pitched over his first four starts.
Maeda then struggled a bit against the Miami Marlins on April 28, setting off a string of outings that paled in comparison to any of his previous success. Coming off a start in which he allowed four earned runs a third consecutive time, Maeda faced the New York Mets a second time this season.
He erased a Curtis Granderson leadoff single in the bottom of the first inning by inducing Asdrubal Cabrera into a 3-6-3 double play. However, Maeda was then struck on the right hand by a Michael Conforto line-drive comebacker.
A trainer went out to check on Maeda, who threw a few practice tosses before reaming in the game. According to J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group, X-rays on Maeda’s throwing hand came back negative, and the incident wasn’t something the 28 year old wanted to be removed for:
After the game, Maeda’s hand was swollen but an X-ray revealed no broken bones. The pitcher said (through an interpreter) that he had a harder time throwing changeups, one of four pitches in his crafty arsenal.
“What I didn’t want to do was come out of the game because of a freak accident like that,” Maeda said. “I was able to grit out five extra innings. I was able to contribute to a win today. I’m happy in that aspect.”
Maeda proceeded to complete five innings of work without allowing a hit after the comebacker. The Mets’ lone baserunners came via a walk in the second and fourth innings.
That’s despite FOX television cameras catching Maeda shaking an already-swollen right hand while standing in the on-deck circle in the second inning.
