Kenta Maeda records first NPB shutout in 12 years

Kenta Maeda of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles achieved his first NPB shutout victory in 12 years during a game against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters on September 24. Despite a minor accident in the first inning where a ball struck his right arm, Maeda pitched a complete game to secure a 6-0 win.

Following the game, which marked the final home series at Escon Field Hokkaido, Fighters player representative Kotaro Kiyomiya addressed fans. He noted that while the team missed their goal of winning the league, they remain focused on competing for the Japan Series title. Manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo also encouraged supporters to stay engaged for the upcoming away games.

Additionally, Nippon-Ham outfielder Shun Mizutani drew attention from fans for his personalized eye black, which featured his jersey number, 53.