[JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Shota Imanaga Brings Talent and Enthusiasm to the Cubs

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For Shota Imanaga, the experience of being the starting pitcher for Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic final left an indelible mark.

Samurai Japan's 3-2 triumph over the United States in the championship game on March 21 in Miami was a glorious team achievement. And in a broader context, the experience of pitching in three WBC games exposed Imanaga to the sport's wealth of international talent.

Now he's preparing to pitch for MLB's Chicago Cubs in the first season of a four-year, $53 million USD (about ¥7.7 billion JPY) deal, which he signed on Thursday, January 11.

The Kitakyushu native spoke at an introductory news conference in Chicago on Friday.

Speaking through an interpreter, Imanaga said, "The experience of the World Baseball Classic made me think that there is more to baseball, more that I can improve on," according to The Associated Press.

"And also, facing the hitters, they're players of unimaginable talent over here and it made me want to apply myself and face them, face the challenge here."

Showing Team Spirit and Making a Positive First Impression

Before discussing pitching tactics before the assembled crowd at a Chicago hotel, Imanaga showed that he's in tune with the team's culture and wants to make a positive impression from the get-go.

He greeted the crowd with some lyrics from the song "Go Cubs Go."

Imanga said, "Hey Chicago, what do you say? Cubs are going to win today."

He introduced himself in English and then admitted, "I am very happy to be here and to be a Cub."

Imanaga added, "I want to say thank you to the entire Cubs organization for having me and I'm very excited to pitch at Wrigley Field. I'm looking forward to meeting fans and teammates."

Getting to Know Shota Imanaga

Imanaga spent the past eight seasons with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars compiling a 64-50 win-loss record. He reached double digits in victories in three seasons, going 11-7 in 2017, 13-7 in 2019 and 11-4 in 2022.

Throughout his career, Imanaga's pinpoint control has been one of his pitching trademarks. He has 1,021 strikeouts and 280 walks in 1,002⅔ innings in NPB.

In 2023, Imanaga, aka "The Throwing Philosopher," was 7-4 with a 2.80 ERA. He fanned 174 batters and issued 24 base on balls in 148 innings.

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The Cubs, who finished the 2023 MLB season with an 83-79 season and missed the playoffs, believe Imanaga will have a commanding presence on the mound and be a quality addition to their starting rotation.

"We're very excited to bring Shota on board," Jed Hoyer, the team's president of baseball operations, was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. "He's been a great teammate, he's very curious [and] he has a reputation of being an exceptionally cerebral pitcher."

Added Hoyer, "He wants to continue to get better, and that sounds like a perfect match for the Cubs."

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Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.