Kenta Maeda heartfeltly announces his return to Japanese professional baseball as his next step.

After completing this season with the Scranton minor league team of the MLB New York Yankees, 37-year-old Kenta Maeda contributed a special column to Sankei Sports. Using his own illustration titled "Next Step," he officially announced his decision to make Nippon Professional Baseball his stage for the upcoming season. In the article, he reflected on the ten years he has spent competing in the U.S. since 2016, spoke about his motivation to reach a combined total of 200 wins between Japan and the U.S. (currently 35 wins away), and declared: "I want to dedicate everything to the team that truly believes they 'need me.'"

Hello everyone, long time no see. I am Kenta Maeda. Shortly after the minor league playoffs ended, I returned to Japan. Now, I am resting my body while gradually preparing for next season.

This year, I wasn’t able to stay in the major leagues continuously, but during my time in the minors, I had the chance to correct my pitching mechanics and regain my original pitching feel. It was a very fulfilling period. From signing a minor league contract with the Cubs to using the opt-out clause to move to the Yankees system, these past four months have convinced me that I have grown again. Since undergoing Tommy John surgery on my right elbow in 2021, the quality and condition of my pitches now are the best they have been in recent years.

I have played ten seasons in the U.S., and next season I hope to continue pitching for a Japanese team. Currently, I am not a free agent (FA), so I cannot negotiate contracts yet. However, my current mindset is:

“The next team I join will very likely be the last one of my professional career.”

I only want to play for a team that genuinely feels they ‘need Kenta Maeda.’ That’s it.

For that final team, I will give my all.

To be honest, when I was younger, I was always self-centered, eager to win titles and prove my ability.

But now my thinking has changed—

I value more “how much I can contribute to the team,” and that is what matters most.

I want to dedicate all the experience I have accumulated and the strength I currently possess to the team.

During these ten years in the U.S., I have gone through injuries, surgery, and rehabilitation; this year, I also experienced a pitching slump and struggled to correct my form and adjust my mindset. I have taken on roles as both a starter and reliever.

Of course, I am still 35 wins short of 200 combined wins in Japan and the U.S., which serves as motivation in my baseball life.

These past few years have indeed been a bit of a detour, but that is not my only or most important goal.

I desire more for my team to win games, capture championships, and become the best in Japan.

I hope to help young players develop and lend them support when they face difficulties.

In the remainder of my professional baseball career, fighting for the team rather than personal achievements is my greatest motivation.

Fortunately, since returning from my right elbow surgery, I have not experienced any pain.

Next year I will turn 38, but I still feel physically strong and energetic.

Being able to pitch without pain is itself a blessing.

I am not obsessed with “how many more years I have to play” just to reach 200 wins.

Because I fully understand that this world is a stage where if you don’t produce results, you cannot stay.

Compared to ten years ago in Japan, I believe I am now a more mature and stronger pitcher.

Perhaps Japanese fans still remember the times when I was struggling or got hit hard;

some may think “Maeda is no longer effective” or “his velocity has dropped.”

But I want to say—

I am not returning to Japan because I couldn’t establish myself in the U.S.

Back in 2016, when I signed the eight-year contract with the Dodgers, I already planned to return to Japan after the contract ended.

Although I later became a free agent and signed a two-year deal with the Tigers starting in 2024,

after careful consideration, I decided to come back to play in Japan starting next season.

I wrote “Next Step” on a colored paper,

in the drawing, I depicted myself stepping into a new chapter of my baseball career,

and included the sun to symbolize “hoping that my future baseball life will continue to be illuminated by sunshine.”

Next year, I will train with full effort,

so that I can,

show my best pitching performance on Japanese fields.

— Kenta Maeda