Before Saturday evening, Kenta Maeda hadn’t pitched in a game since April 29th – almost three full weeks.

So when the nine-year big league veteran took the ball in Des Moines with the Iowa Cubs on Saturday, there was rust to be shaken off. Maeda inked a minor league deal with the Cubs on Friday after being released by the Detroit Tigers on May 7.

He plans to shake off the rust and get back on track.

“We haven’t really done much since it’s only been a couple of days since joining the team,” Maeda said to the Des Moines Register’s Tommy Birch. “So today’s outing wasn’t the best, obviously. But starting tomorrow is when we’ll dig deep into what the problem is and how I can fix myself and establish myself as a pitcher.”

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Maeda has shown success at the big league level. In 2016, Maeda finished third in NL ookie of the Year voting – behind only Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Corey Seager and Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner. He started two games in the 2016 NLCS against the Cubs that fall, throwing a combined 7.2 innings, allowing 7 hits and 4 earned runs.

With the Minnesota Twins in 2020, Maeda finished second in AL Cy Young voting behind Shane Bieber – posting a 2.70 ERA in 11 starts during that COVID-shortened season.

Now with the Cubs’ organization, Maeda believes he can get back to his former self and regain success.

“I think this is a great organization for them to fix my problems and get me back on track. And I really want to be at the big-league level again,” Maeda told the Des Moines Register. “So, I feel like this is a good spot and a good organization to be.”

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With injuries to co-aces Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga, the Cubs signed Maeda as depth for their starting rotation.

“I think it shows that the Cubs have belief in me to get myself back on track and that goes with coaching and just looking over analysis and all of that,” Maeda continued. “So, I’ll do my best on my part to respond to their expectations.”