Skip to content

LEAGUES News

Maeda throws 2 scoreless innings despite Rays hearing PitchCom calls

Julio Aguilar / Getty Images Sport / Getty

This was a different kind of pitch tipping when Minnesota right-hander Kenta Maeda made only his second spring start in his return from Tommy John surgery two seasons ago.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said the PitchCom device catcher Tony Wolters was using was loud enough for Tampa Bay hitters to hear every pitch that was called. Home plate umpire Brennan Miller heard them all through the wireless system used by pitchers and catchers to communicate.

Maeda still threw two scoreless innings, allowing two hits. He struck out two and walked one.

“I said nicely done,” Baldelli said. “By the way, something to note, they knew every pitch that was coming.”

Maeda laughed when told by his manager what happened.

Baldelli said the device in Wolters’ ear was projecting significantly louder than normal, and it wasn’t very loud in the domed Tropicana Field with an announced crowd of 2,531.

A conversion with the umpires after the second inning tipped off Baldelli, and adjustments were made to the device.

___

AP Sports Writers David Brandt, Jimmy Golen and Pat Graham, and freelance writer Mark Didtler contributed to this report.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

RELATED NEWS

VJ Edgecombe in his #NBA2KSummerLeague debut: 🔔 15 PTS 🔔 ...
No. 3 pick Edgecombe inefficient but scores 15 in return from thumb sprain
407 feet off the bat of Brent Rooker! #AllStarGame
A's Rooker gets AL on the board with 3-run HR off Giants' Rodríguez 💣
POLAR BEAR GOES YARD IN ATLANTA!
Alonso gets Atlanta on his side for once with 3-run HR to break All-Star Game open 🐻‍❄️
Freddie Freeman gets a standing ovation in Atlanta as he exi...
Freeman exits All-Star Game to nice ovation from Braves fans 👏
Clayton Kershaw exits at the #AllStarGame 👏
Kershaw lifted from potential final ASG to standing ovation from fans, teammates 🫡
GAS. Skenes with back-to-back Ks to start this All-Star Gam...
Skenes opens 95th All-Star Game with consecutive Ks ⛽️
Welcome back to Atlanta, Freddie Freeman! 👏 📺: FOX
Freeman gets emotional after loud ovation in All-Star return to Atlanta 🥹
😅 @Braves fans with a "warm" welcome to the Mets and Philli...
Braves fans boo Mets, Phillies All-Stars during intros 😂
RELEASE: Blackhawks Sign Anton Frondell to Three-Year, Entry...