After missing all of the 2022 season with Tommy John Surgery, Minnesota Twins pitcher Kenta Maeda made his second appearance in spring training on Thursday, throwing two innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. In those two innings, Maeda allowed two hits, issued one walk, struck out two hitters and surrendered no runs.
At a glance, those stats may seem underwhelming. Not bad, by any means, but not overpowering, either. Still, they’re better than they look.
Following the game, Do-Hyoung Park, who covers the Twins for MLB.com, reported that due to some PitchCom issues and with little noise at Tropicana Field, Tampa’s hitters could hear the pitches Maeda was going to throw in the ear of catcher, Tony Wolters.
Well, here's some important context for Kenta Maeda's outing today:
The PitchCom receiver in catcher Tony Wolters' ear was too loud in the quiet Trop environment, so Rays hitters knew every pitch that Kenta was throwing before he threw it.
Still threw 2 scoreless innings.
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) March 2, 2023
The issue was solved after two innings, so Minnesota’s subsequent pitchers didn’t have the same obstacle. Both Maeda and his manager, Rocco Baldelli, seemed to have a good sense of humor about it.
Kenta had no idea until Rocco told him after the outing:
“By the way, something to note: They knew every pitch that was coming, so now you know.”
Rocco said Kenta just laughed.
Rocco: “I’m glad it happened today and not in April.”
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) March 2, 2023
They were not the only ones.
Maybe the 2017 Astros are deserving champions. https://t.co/huWATxDAU1
— Ben Ennis (@SportsnetBen) March 2, 2023
This is actually really funny https://t.co/n89KFnCWmw
— Gary (@gary_rays) March 2, 2023
Finally, the Rays have turned the Trop into an advantage. https://t.co/iNyiyzFGnP
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) March 2, 2023
— Reggie Wilson (@ReggieWilsonTV) March 2, 2023
As far as impressive performances, it doesn’t quite top Sandy Koufax’s perfect game, which he threw despite tipping his pitches to the Chicago Cubs, a lineup with three future Hall of Famers.
Still, two innings of shutout ball when your opponent knows every pitch that’s coming? That’s nothing to sneeze at.
