Baseball is hard enough for pitchers when hitters have no clue as to which pitch they are trying to hit.
The job becomes nearly impossible when hitters are given a heads up about what pitch is coming their way, but not for pitcher for the Minnesota Twins Kenta Maeda, who pitched two scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays, even when hitters knew what pitches were coming their way.
Kenta Maeda, #18 of the Minnesota Twins, throws during a team workout on February 18, 2023 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. (Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
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Maeda allowed two hits Thursday, striking out two and walking one, in just his second start since undergoing tommy john surgery two seasons ago
«I said, ‘Well done. By the way, one thing to keep in mind, they knew every pitch that was coming,» Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said.
Rays hitters were warned of the pitches due to PitchCom Device used by catcher Tony Wolters being louder than usual.
Kenta Maeda, number 18 of the Minnesota Twins, and his translator look on against the Chicago White Sox in the eighth inning at Target Field on July 14, 2022 in Minneapolis. The White Sox defeated the Twins 12-2. (David Berding/Getty Images)
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Plate umpire Brennan Miller could hear the pitches, and after a discussion with the umpires after the second inning, the device was adjusted.
Maeda made his return to the mound last Saturday against the Rays after undergoing Tommy John surgery on September 1, 2021.
«After being injured for so long, I wanted to feel good throwing a first-pitch strike,» Maeda said through interpreter Dai Sekizaki, according to MLB Network.
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Minnesota Twins pitcher Kenta Maeda, #18, throws a pitch to home plate during the MLB spring training game between the Minnesota Twins and the Tampa Bay Rays on March 2, 2023, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
His first pitch was hit by a leadoff double, but Maeda was able to get out of a first-inning jam for a scoreless inning.
«It’s a relief to be able to come back without scoring,» Maeda said. «And then once I was back on the bench, the teammates welcomed me back, and it was a great feeling. I’m excited to be back with the guys.»
Associated Press contributed to this report