Kenta Maeda’s first MLB start in 591 days ended with a scare Tuesday when he appeared to be uncomfortable after allowing a single to Jon Berti in the sixth inning of Minnesota’s 1-0 loss to the Marlins.
Catcher Christian Vazquez and manager Rocco Baldelli met Maeda on the mound after the right-hander seemed to be favoring his right arm – the same arm that he had Tommy John surgery on late in the 2021 season. Prior to exiting the game, Maeda had allowed just one run on three hits and struck out nine.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli cleared the air after the game, saying Maeda was dealing with arm fatigue in his first regular season start since Aug. 21, 2021.
”Kenta’s fine,” said Baldelli. “I think he was gassed. He had to work, come to the dugout and truthfully he was not in the dugout very long because the guy on the other side of the field was having some very, very quick innings.”
"That's the Kenta we saw a bunch of in 2020, the guy that was second in the Cy Young."
Rocco Baldelli talks about Kenta Maeda's performance on the mound in his return. #MNTwins | #MLB pic.twitter.com/nCPVqLsUSf
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) April 5, 2023
Betsy Helfand of the Pioneer Press talked to Maeda and he confirmed that he’s fine.
Good news on Kenta Maeda: He was just feeling a bit fatigued but is otherwise feeling fine. He said he expects to make his next start and Rocco Baldelli said the same.
— Betsy Helfand (@betsyhelfand) April 5, 2023
The guy on the other side of the field Baldelli reference was reigning NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, who struck out five in a complete game shutout that was the shortest game of the season at 1 hour, 57 minutes.
Up next: Twins at Marlins, Wednesday at 12 p.m. CT.
