LOS ANGELES -- Kenta Maeda has made it through the longest spring training he has ever spent in a single location, authored a smashing debut that included a home run, and received the honor of pitching in the Los Angeles Dodgers' home opener.
He has gone through the ritualistic silent treatment that comes to a player for his first long ball, won a steak from his manager for his hitting prowess this spring and has compared pitching notes with teammate and staff ace Clayton Kershaw.
What the Dodgers’ newest Japanese import has not done yet is pitch against the team’s hated rival, the San Francisco Giants.