Overview
- Maeda Ken, who was making his second start of the season Tuesday, left in the fourth inning of Rakuten’s game against the Nippon-Ham Fighters with a suspected right calf issue.
- The right-hander grimaced after his second pitch to batter Tamiya with one out and a runner on first in a 0–0 game.
- He threw warm-up pitches and then delivered a third pitch before showing pain again and being taken out.
- Regional outlets including Nishinippon, Chunichi, and Hokkaido Shimbun reported the early exit, and no official update on the injury was available as of Tuesday night.
- Any absence could press the Eagles to adjust their early-season rotation, especially after his March 31 return start in NPB ended early with control trouble.