Detroit Tigers' Kenta Maeda pinpoints pitching mechanics as reason for bad start to 2024

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins introduced right-hander Kenta Maeda, now a starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, before Friday's series opener at Target Field. A photo collage appeared on the videoboard in left-center field, and the fans in the stands cheered for the ex-Twin.

"It's definitely unique to be back," Maeda said.

The final photo: Maeda celebrating — a beer in his right hand, goggles on his head, a soaked division champs T-shirt and the biggest smile — in the clubhouse with his now-former teammates when the Twins clinched the American League Central Division last season.

Maeda tipped his Tigers cap from the visitor's dugout.

"As you know, I got traded to the Twins," Maeda said in Japanese, interpreted by Dai Sekizaki. "Ever since Day 1, the organization welcomed me with open arms. I fell in love with the team and everything about the team. It was a great four years."

TRENDING: Kerry Carpenter: The one Tiger locked in and raking all season

Maeda, who pitched for the Twins from 2020-23 and signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the Tigers, had his best of four starts this season against the Twins on April 13 at Comerica Park in Detroit, six days before his return to Target Field in Minneapolis. He allowed two runs (one earned run) on five hits and zero walks with five strikeouts across six innings.

His four-seam fastball averaged a season-best 89.9 mph.

Everything seemed to be trending in the right direction, but then Maeda had trouble repeating his mechanics again. The 36-year-old owns a 7.64 ERA with seven walks and 12 strikeouts across 17⅔ innings in four starts with the Tigers, leading MLB in the worst way possible with seven home runs allowed.

"The inconsistencies come with his strike-throwing," manager A.J. Hinch said. "He has to create leverage to get them to swing at the pitches he wants them to swing at. ... He just hasn't been able to throw a strike when he needs to, and that puts him in bad counts, and in bad counts, they can eliminate some of his pitches and go into attack mode."

Maeda pinpointed Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in September 2021, as the primary reason he is struggling to repeat his mechanics. He returned from elbow surgery at the beginning of the 2023 season with the Twins.

But Maeda landed on the injured list again in late April with right triceps strain after four inconsistent starts that month. He came back from the injured list in late June and dominated in his final 17 games, including 16 starts, to help the Twins win the AL Central. During that stretch, Maeda posted a 3.36 ERA with 25 walks and 103 strikeouts in 88⅓ innings.

READY TO HIT: Tigers' Parker Meadows has struggled vs. fastballs. His HR may be turning point

During this stretch, however, Maeda has gathered feedback from new coaches — pitching coach Chris Fetter and assistant pitching coach Robin Lund — in search of fixing his mechanics.

"There's certain parts within my mechanics that I have to clean up," Maeda said. "Prior to the surgery, I didn't have to be aware of it or mindful of it. Everything just synced, and I was able to go out there and deliver my pitches naturally, but since the surgery, especially this year, there's one thing that mind is trying to do, and my body is doing something else, so there's a little bit of a discrepancy between the mind and the body. That part needs to be all synced up. I'm having some trouble getting those to align."

Maeda, who has a career 5.07 ERA in March and April, regressed in his most recent start against the Texas Rangers on Thursday at Comerica Park. He surrendered three home runs, allowed six runs (five earned runs) and walked as many batters — two — as he struck out. He was pulled with two outs in the third inning.

His fastball averaged just 89 mph.

[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]

The first homer allowed provides insight into what happens when Maeda — who relies on the combination of his fastball, splitter and slider — isn't throwing pitches inside the strike zone.

He fell behind 2-0 in the count to leadoff hitter Marcus Semien in the first inning with back-to-back sliders. He had to get back into the strike zone to avoid a walk, so he threw a center-cut 89.4 mph fastball.

Semien, anticipating fastball, hit a solo home run to left-center field.

BAD NEWS: Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long to undergo Tommy John surgery, miss rest of 2024 season

"It's the general timing of my body and how it's moving," Maeda said. "Missing the four-seam against right-handed hitters to the glove side, that doesn't happen to my pitching when I'm out there feeling good. I think there's got to be something with the timing."

In 2024, Maeda's fastball is averaging 89.3 mph. Opponents are hitting .455 with a 1.091 slugging percentage against it. His splitter has a below-average 21.1% whiff rate, with opponents slugging .423. The whiff rate on his slider is 18.2%.

In 2023, Maeda's fastball averaged 91 mph. Opponents hit .275 with a .451 slugging percentage against it. His splitter had an above-average 35% whiff rate and held opponents to a .263 slugging percentage. The whiff rate on his slider was 27.2%.

The performance of each pitch is significantly worse in 2024.

"I'm definitely confident in bouncing back," said Maeda, an eight-year MLB veteran after eight seasons in Japan. "Whether I have the confidence or not, I have to do it. I'm determined to bring tempo and timing back."

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kenta Maeda knows the reason for rough start with Detroit Tigers