The Hiroshima pitcher defeated the Yokohama DeNA BayStars on April 6, 2012, by pitching a no-hitter. Through five innings, he pitched a perfect game, walking just two batters in the 2-0 victory.
Since Masahiro Yamamoto’s no-hitter in 2006, it was the first regular-season no-hitter in the NPB.
He started the 2012 NPB All-Star Game 2 and was almost unbeatable, allowing just a hit to Kensuke Tanaka over the course of three scoreless innings.
He was selected game MVP, becoming the first pitcher to do so since Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2004 and the first pitcher from the Carp since Yutaka Enatsu in 1980.
He had a 14-7, 1.53 record at the end of the year. He was second in the CL in wins (one behind Yusuke Nomura and Utsumi), third with 5 complete games (one behind Miura and Yoshimi), tied for first with 2 shutouts, and led in innings (206 1/3, 9 2/3 ahead of Randy Messenger), and third in strikeouts.
He also led the CL in ERA (.45 ahead of Yusuke Nomura and Utsumi) (171, one shy of Nomi and Toshiya Sugiuchi).
He received a Gold Glove, but neither the Sawamura Award nor the Best Nine (Utsumi received those) (Tadashi Settsu of the PL won).
He placed first among all Carp players in the 2012 Central League Most Valuable Player Award voting, coming in at number six.
Is Kenta Maeda Still With The Twins?
Yes. Kenta Maeda is still with the Minnesota Twins. He is expected to be back from injury in September after having a Tommy John surgery.