Tigers give Kenta Maeda ball in spring opener

Kenta Maeda arrived with something to prove. He just aced his first test.
Kenta Maeda was flying from Los Angeles to Tampa for the start of spring training a couple of weeks ago when he heard someone attempting to speak heavily accented Japanese in the seat behind him. It turned out to be his former Minnesota Twins teammate,
Tigers’ Kenta Maeda opens spring with everything to prove
Kenta Maeda threw two innings in the Tigers' Grapefruit League opener, striking out four batters and validating an offseason of change.
Why Detroit Tigers named Kenta Maeda as starting pitcher for first game in spring training
Detroit Tigers right-hander Kenta Maeda has been named the starting pitcher for the first Grapefruit League game in spring training, scheduled for Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies at Joker Marchant Stadium.
Tigers give Kenta Maeda the ball in spring opener: 'He came here to prove something'
The Tigers are rewarding veteran Kenta Maeda’s productive offseason work regimen by giving him the ball in the Grapefruit League opener.
Tigers’ manager AJ Hinch explains intriguing Kenta Maeda decision before Spring Training opener
The Detroit Tigers will open up their Grapefruit League slate on Saturday with a date with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Tigers signed Kenta Maeda in December of 2023, and his freshman season in Detroit left much to be desired.
Why Tarik Skubal is testing splitter grips with Kenta Maeda in Tigers spring training
Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal and right-hander Kenta Maeda were talking Sunday morning about splitters on the TigerTown backfields.
Tigers' Kenta Maeda: Throwing harder this spring
Maeda was throwing 92 mph during a live batting practice session Tuesday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports. It's up from the 90.8 mph he averaged with his four-seamer last season and significantly more velocity than he was showing during spring training last year.
Detroit Tigers' Kenta Maeda throws 93 mph in walk-off win vs Phillies in spring opener
The Detroit Tigers walked-off the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-6, on Saturday in the first game of the 2025 Grapefruit League ...
Detroit Tigers starter Kenta Maeda is ready for comeback season in 2025 after big changes
Suddenly, Detroit Tigers right-hander Kenta Maeda looks like a legit starting pitcher again. All he needed to do was change ...
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Hard work pays off with extra velo as Maeda aces spring debut
The first pitch from Kenta Maeda on Saturday came in at 92.7 mph, according to Statcast. He reached back an inning later for ...
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Tigers 7, Phillies 6: Justice Bigbie walks it off and the Tigers are still hot
They opened the broadcasdt talking Kenta Maeda and his advanced state of preparedness this spring. That was quickly on ...
Tigers’ Kenta Maeda gets real on eyeing bounce-back campaign after ugly 2024 season
When he ended the 2024 season in the bullpen, Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda was told he would compete for a spot in the ...
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Detroit Tigers play first spring game today: Starting lineup, pitching plans
Veteran Nabil Crismatt will start for Philadelphia. The Phillies' lineup won’t have much star power, but longtime Twins ...