In Japanese professional baseball, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles say they have signed a contract with Maeda Kenta. The veteran Japanese pitcher has expressed his intention to return to his home country after playing in Major League Baseball.
The team made the announcement on Wednesday.
The 37-year-old right-hander joined the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in 2007. He won the Sawamura Award as Japan's best pitcher and the most wins title twice each. He also claimed the best ERA title three times.
Maeda moved to MLB's Los Angeles Dodgers through the posting system in 2016.
He earned 16 wins in his rookie season, and contributed to the Dodgers clinching the division title.
Maeda later pitched for the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers.
He has an MLB record of 68 wins, with a combined 165 wins in his Japanese pro baseball and MLB careers.
After being released from the Tigers in May, Maeda played for the Triple-A affiliates of the Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees.
Maeda will pitch in Japanese pro baseball for the first time in 11 years.

Quiz 1:
Who did Maeda Kenta play for before returning to Japan in 2025?
A. Chicago Cubs
B. Hiroshima Toyo Carp
C. Los Angeles Dodgers
D. New York Yankees

Quiz 2:
In which year did Maeda Kenta join the Hiroshima Toyo Carp?
A. 2006
B. 2007
C. 2008
D. 2009

Quiz 3:
How many times has Maeda Kenta won the most wins title in Japanese professional baseball?
A. Once
B. Twice
C. Three times
D. Four times

[Answer block]
Answers:
Quiz 1: B
Quiz 2: B
Quiz 3: B