Shohei Ohtani’s Compatriot Confirms Retirement Aspirations After Announcing Wish for NPB Return After 2025 Season

His name has been connected with Japan ever since his Dodgers debut in 2016, and now, almost a decade later, that circle is nearing its final stage. Once considered a reliable international star in MLB, Shohei Ohtani‘s compatriot has gone through a turbulent past few years marked by injuries, roster shuffles and slackening performance. Yet through it all, the star has remained an honored veteran presence who continues to command attention to this day.

The right-hander, Kenta Maeda, who first rose to prominence with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp before making his MLB move, has established a career across two continents. He thrived in Los Angeles as both a starter and reliever, reached new heights with the Minnesota Twins in 2020, and fought his way back from Tommy John surgery. But after Detroit freed him earlier this year and brief stints with the Cubs and Yankees’ minor league affiliates, anticipation about his next steps only strengthened.

That anticipation ended when Maeda himself finalized his plans. Dugout Report posted on Instagram confirming the news, and the text in the attached photo said: ”Kenta Maeda Plans To Retire From MLB, Return To NPB After 2025 Season”. The post’s caption said: “9-year MLB veteran pitcher Kenta Maeda revealed he plans to retire from MLB and return to Japan’s Nippon Pro Baseball League after this season, multiple Japanese outlets report.” His MLB journey, spanning 226 games with the Dodgers, Twins, and Tigers, looks set to close with 2025 as his last year in the American big leagues.

During an appearance on TV Tokyo’s Sports Real Live, Maeda unfolded the reasoning behind this decision. He disclosed he had already earmarked his two-year, $24 million deal with Detroit as his final MLB contract, regardless of on-field outcomes. Interestingly, he pointed out that his struggles in 2024–25 were not the trigger; even if he had dominated the league, he would have always gone back home in 2026. His family has already been living in Japan, while he oscillated between minor league stops this year.

So what awaits him in Japan? At age 37, Kenta Maeda is not looking for a farewell tour; he hopes to compete in the NPB. He spent eight successful seasons with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp before transitioning, and his comeback could allow him to finish his career where it began. Whether Carp fans welcome him back or another NPB club snaps up his services, the pitcher’s return promises to be one of the most closely followed storylines in Japanese baseball’s 2026 season.

That decision, however, cannot be separated from the respect Maeda has earned across MLB. From managers to teammates, the narrative around him has been consistent: a pitcher with elite command, a deep arsenal, and the professionalism to mentor those around him, even as his career wound through injuries and late-stage struggles.

Praise, Resilience and Challenges Define Kenta Maeda’s MLB Legacy

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch once emphasized how Maeda’s command and discipline allowed him to magnify his splitter and slider combination, two pitches that constantly bewildered hitters during his peak years. That capability to control the zone made him more than just another arm; it allowed him to hold power across nine MLB seasons. Cubs skipper Craig Counsell echoed that sentiment, pointing out how Maeda’s wealth of experience and unique career path could still impact younger pitchers around him, even as his role changed away from being a frontline starter.

His resilience has also been a hot spot in his story. Maeda’s 2020 season with the Twins, where he finished runner-up in AL Cy Young voting with a 2.70 ERA, remains his crowning MLB achievement, and his return from Tommy John surgery in 2022 was celebrated as a triumph of perseverance. Twins staff even noted their relief at seeing him emerge from rehab healthy, recognizing how tiring the process had been. Beyond performance, his adaptability stood out: simplifying his arsenal, leaning on his best pitches, and embracing a mentor’s role for younger arms who watched how he handled hardships.

Yet the challenges of recent years cannot be ignored. His stint with the Tigers was rocky, ruined by inflated ERAs and finally ending with his release in 2025. Several injuries, including the 2021 Tommy John procedure and recurring arm issues, limited his consistency and tested his durability. His current minor league deal with the Cubs highlights how far he has drifted from his dominant form, forcing him to prove he can still fight at a major-league level. Still, even in diminished form, Maeda’s character as a professional who commanded respect never flickered, making his eventual NPB return more of a homecoming than a retirement tour.