Los Angeles Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda is showing his worth early in his MLB career. The Japanese pitcher is undefeated in three starts and the Dodgers signed him at a bargain price.
According to the Associated Press, there were some concerns about Maeda's elbow that is why the Dodgers only gave him an eight-year, $25 million deal. However, it is full of incentives that could bring the total worth of the contract to $106.2 million.
It is a big money deal but Los Angeles got him cheap considering he replaced Zack Greinke in their rotation. Greinke spurned the Dodgers to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks for six years and $206.5 million.
Maeda has started in three games and has logged in 19.0 innings with an impressive 0.47 ERA. His only run allowed so far this season is a homer from San Francisco Giants' second baseman Joe Panik on Sunday. Nonetheless, the Dodgers are 3-0 when he is pitching on the mound.
The 28-year-old will be very vital in his team's rotation since he is the only right-handed starter. Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brett Anderson are still on the disabled list while Scott Kazmir is struggling to start his Dodgers career as he has 6.43 ERA in three starts.
In the win against the Giants, Maeda was a little shaky as he issued three walks but showed his poise by working thru seven innings. He only allowed three hits and struck out seven batters in the 3-1 victory with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praising his early season performance.
"You just want to go out and watch him compete, and he prepares well," Roberts told MLB.com after the game. "You look at him after three starts and where he's at right now, he has exceeded expectations. He's throwing the ball as well as anyone in baseball right now."
Unlike other MLB Japanese starters Masahiro Tanaka and Yu Darvish, Maeda is not a power pitcher. He relies on his off-speed pitches and the defense for his good performances. He also is a proven workhorse who has pitched more than 200 innings in four out of his eight seasons in the Nippon Professional Baseball league.
Maeda has career record in Japan of 97-67 with 2.39 ERA and 1,233 strikeouts. He is also a two-time Sawamura Award winner, the counterpart of the Cy Young Award in the MLB.
You can watch Maeda's win against the Giants in the video below.