2015: The Yokohama DeNA BayStars selected Imanaga in the first round of the NPB draft, out of Komazawa University.

He has a fastball averaging nearly 92 mph (tops out at 96 mph), changeup, curveball and slider in his repertoire. He isn't an overpowering hurler but finds success with his command and changeup.

Imanaga represented the Japan national baseball team in the 2019 exhibition games against Mexico.

Imanaga played for the Japanese national team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic and started the championship game in which Japan won 3-2.

Imanaga is nicknamed the "Throwing Philosopher" on account of his scholarly approach to pitching. Known to work tirelessly on perfecting his repertoire, the newly minted Cubs player boasts exceptional command of his arsenal of breaking pitches, especially his changeup, which has been known to baffle hitters.

As Shōta did some research on the history of the Cubs before signing with the ballclub, the pitcher naturally studied up on the 2016 World Series champions. He envisioned what it would be like to experience a similar season and parade in Chicago.

“That left a big impression on me,” Imanaga said via Cubs software engineer Shingo Murata, who served as the pitcher’s interpreter on Friday. “I saw the images of the parade with millions and millions of people.”

Imanaga also marveled at the role Ben Zobrist played in helping end the Cubs’ 108-year World Series drought. The former super-utility man moved to different spots in the batting order and accepted whatever position he was asked to play. Zobrist also delivered the go-ahead RBI double in the 10th inning of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series.

Zobrist happened to wear No. 18, which is a number often donned by ace pitchers in Japan. Yoshinobu Yamamoto picked that number with the Dodgers, as did Japanese pitchers like Kenta Maeda, Hisashi Iwakuma, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Tomo Ohka before him.

Imanaga felt an even stronger pull to choose “18” given Zobrist’s place in Cubs history.

“Ben Zobrist was an excellent player,” Imanaga said. “He played a lot of roles. He did whatever it takes to help the team win.”

That last reason meant a lot to Zobrist, who attended Cubs Convention over the weekend to take part in a celebration of the 2016 team. “That was probably, personally, what I felt most honored by, was that comment,” Zobrist said. “Because of course, that would be something that I'd want to be known for from my time here. So the fact that he gathered that based on his research, it's a big honor.”

Before Imanaga put on his new Cubs jersey with No. 18 stitched on the back in his introductory press conference, the pitcher reached out to Zobrist through their shared agency. He wanted to inform the former Cubs star of his number choice and the reasoning prior to announcing it publicly.

“He honored me. And I feel like, coming from an honor culture, that means a lot,” Zobrist said. “That’s amazing.”

During that 2016 season, Zobrist hit .272 with 18 homers, 31 doubles, 76 RBIs and more walks (96) than strikeouts (82). He was named to his third career All-Star team, reached the postseason for the sixth time and played in his third World Series. He took home the World Series MVP after hitting .357 (10-for-28) in 7 games, including playing all 10 innings in the final, historic contest. No wonder Imanaga wanted to wear his number.

“It’s not my number. It's the Cubs’ number,” Zobrist said. “And I hope he brings the next championship here.”  (Jordan Bastian - Jan. 15, 2024)

HISTORIC DEBUT

MLB debut (April 1, 2024): Shota was sensational. The 30-year-old rookie struck out nine Rockies batters and walked none in six innings of shutout work in a 5-0 Cubs win at Wrigley Field. Imanaga made Cubs history in the game, becoming the first pitcher to strike out at least nine batters, allow two or fewer hits, and allow zero runs in their debut start for the North Siders.

April 1, 2024: Shota bounced off the mound at Wrigley Field and unleashed a yell amid a riotous response by the North Side crowd. The fastball he had just fired past the bat of Colorado’s Nolan Jones served as the exclamation point on one of the more memorable debuts in Cubs history.

After leading the Cubs’ to a 5-0 win in cold conditions in the team’s home opener, Imanaga was asked what exactly he shouted during that moment in the sixth inning. Imanaga, who flirted with a no-hitter and struck out nine in the first start of his MLB career, cracked a smile as his interpreter, Edwin Stanberry, relayed the question. “I'm not sure what I yelled,” Imanaga said. “But afterwards, I said, ‘Let's go!’ So I think I'm becoming a little bit more acclimated to the culture of the U.S.”

“That was an awesome first performance,” Cubs left fielder Ian Happ said. “I'm excited that he's on our team.”

Through the first five innings, Imanaga’s only blemish was a missed-catch error by third baseman Christopher Morel that allowed Kris Bryant to reach safely. Imanaga then set down the first two batters in the sixth, joining Amaury Telemaco (May 16, 1996) as the only Cubs pitchers in at least the last 50 years to open an MLB debut with 5 2/3 no-hit frames.

Imanaga filled up the zone and led with his fastball (used 56 times), mixing in 24 splitters, 10 sweeping sliders and two curves. Overall, he generated 20 whiffs, per Statcast. That marked the third-most swinging strikes by a pitcher in his Major League debut in the pitch-tracking era, which goes back to 2008. “Really, to me, it was just how much he attacked the zone,” Cubs catcher Yan Gomes said. “That's what makes it fun to be able to switch pitches and be able to go into a game plan.”

Imanaga’s no-hit bid ended in the sixth, when Charlie Blackmon and Brendan Rodgers connected for consecutive singles. After the first, Imanaga took a moment to collect himself behind the mound, while the fans filling the Friendly Confines offered a warm ovation for his efforts. He then struck out Jones for his final act. And Imanaga sure seems to know how to win people over along the way. (J Bastian - MLB.com - April 1, 2024)

Shota knows how to win over Cubs fans:

–In his introductory press conference in January, following the signing of a four-year deal, Imanaga won Cubs fans over by reciting the words to the team’s famous victory song, “Go Cubs, Go.”

–He kept it going by picking No. 18 in part to honor Cubs World Series MVP Ben Zobrist.

–Imanaga continued embracing local vibes when he warmed up to the Chicago Blackhawks’ goal song, “Chelsea Dagger.” “I was able to go to a Chicago Blackhawks game,” Imanaga said. “It's a song that I picked so the fans will enjoy it.”

–Imanaga won over his teammates throughout the spring. He tried not to use his interpreter unless it was absolutely necessary behind the scenes, helping him learn English.

–He dropped by a local Arizona Target store to buy his own football after seeing how much his teammates enjoyed tossing one around.

Teammates talk about his great sense of humor.

“He takes in the right stuff and then he kind of throws some stuff out,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “But that ability just to make adjustments, that’s being a Major League Baseball player. And he’s good at it. You can tell he’s really good at it. I look forward to his journey.”

May 3, 2024: Shota Imanaga, Cubs, NL Rookie of the Month.

Taking your game overseas can't possibly be as easy as Imanaga makes it look. He was undefeated in April, going 4-0 while leading all qualifying pitchers with an 0.98 ERA (further lowered to 0.78 by his masterful May 1 outing against the Mets). Opposing hitters getting their first look at the veteran left-hander hit a measly .181/.204/.257 and drew just three walks against 28 strikeouts. (SS Chepuru - MLB.com - May 3, 2024)

How a Grocery Store Near O'Hare Helped Sway Shota Toward Cubs

Shota Imanaga may not have been as widely pursued as the other pitcher coming out of Japan this winter, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but he still had options. A recent piece from The Athletic (Patrick Mooney, Sahadev Sharma and Ken Rosenthal contributed) on Imanaga suggests the southpaw drew substantial interest from seven teams, including the division rival Milwaukee Brewers. But Chicago, who had been scouting Imanaga since 2018, won out.

One reason why? A fortuitously located Japanese grocery store.

According to The Athletic, while Imanaga was staying in Schaumburg, Illinois this winter, he and his team grabbed ingredients from a Japanese grocer, Mitsuwa Marketplace, and cooked dinner in the hotel. It was one of the touchstones to make Imanaga feel at home.

"In a way, Mitsuwa Marketplace was part of the Cubs’ home-field advantage. The organization already enjoyed a good relationship with Imanaga’s agency, Octagon, which counted clients such as Joe Maddon and Ben Zobrist during the 2016 World Series run. Octagon has an office on Michigan Avenue and a network throughout the Chicago area, which made it a convenient base for Imanaga and agents Lou Jon Nero and Yoshi Hasegawa."

Chicago, the largest city in the Midwest, along with the surrounding metro area, has no shortage of diverse global food options. In addition to Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlington Heights, you can get a Polish experience at Deli 4 You Market, Greek food at Minos Imported Foods, or Indian cuisine at Patel Brothers, just a small sample of the offerings out near O'Hare, where Imanaga was staying.

Who knows how much having access to familiar tastes swayed Imanaga. After all, an arguably awful college football game at Wrigley Field was a needle-mover in his decision to come to Chicago. Maybe it was destined regardless. But the idea that Imanaga would choose his new home in America based in part by accessibility to a grocery store he likes tracks, considering he's quickly become one of the most relatable and likable new faces in the sport.

Imanaga, as of this writing, has the fifth-best ERA among starting pitchers in MLB and the 14th-best WHIP. (Josh Wilson | Jun 4, 2024)

July 2024: Imanaga was selected to the All-Star Game. 

July 15, 2024:  During one of the Cubs’ morning meetings with the pitchers in Spring Training, the topic of talking to umpires came up. They were discussing past situations and potential scenarios and going over how to best handle those types of moments in a game. Kyle Hendricks wondered if Shota Imanaga understood the conversation.

“His response immediately was, 'I am a gentleman,’” Hendricks said. “Everybody died laughing. We cracked up. He was fully in-tune. That was probably the first time it kind of opened my eyes to his personality.”

Imanaga’s abilities on a mound are what led him to the NL All-Star team in this standout rookie campaign, but his instant connection with Cubs fans and teammates has also been a major part of his story. The transition from Japan to the United States and MLB can be daunting, but Imanaga has made it look easy. It has helped that Imanaga is not a rookie in the true sense.

This is a 30-year-old pitcher who picked up the win for Japan in the championship game in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and then led Nippon Professional Baseball in strikeouts last year. He was a tested ace for Yokohoma who was ready for the challenge in Chicago.  “Playing at this level will definitely expose you as a player, but also as a person and emotionally,” Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner said. “He’s just very well-equipped to handle whatever this sport happens to throw his way. His personality is a big part of why he’s been able to have success making a really challenging transition.”

Imanaga offered the first glimpse of what was to come at Cubs Convention in January. During his introductory press conference, Imanaga recited lines from, “Go Cubs, Go,” which blares at Wrigley Field after each home win. The pitcher won over Cubs fans immediately. It was a fun moment to begin his career with the team that just handed him a four-year, $53 million contract, but it was also the product of hours of preparation.

“I thought that was the perfect example of who he is,” Cubs first baseman Michael Busch said. “He cares about the organization. He just loves the game of baseball. But he didn’t just show up to that podium and do that out of nothing. He did research and studied.”  Imanaga has quickly won over his teammates, too. There was a bus ride from an airport early in the season during which it was Imanaga’s turn to stand up, microphone in hand and field questions from his teammates. At one point, Imanaga began singing a few lines from Busch’s country walk-up song.

“That was the moment for me where I was like, ‘This guy is just fully himself,’” Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong said. “He’s funny and charismatic and just so authentic.”

During Spring Training, Imanaga saw how a few of his teammates liked to toss a football around on the agility field at the Cubs’ complex. He made the trek to a local Target, bought a football of his own and began joining the group.  

Downtime in the dugout has also been an avenue for Imanaga to show off his sense of humor. Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon said he likes to jokingly yell, “Stinks!” from the bench after an opposing batter’s name is announced.

“Shota has started saying, ‘Stinks!’ with me,” Taillon said with a laugh. “He’ll be like, ‘Why does this guy stink?’ I’m like, ‘No, no, he’s awesome. He’s really good.’ But that banter, he wants to be a part of it. He wants to talk smack with the boys.”

At the same time, Imanaga has displayed discipline, intelligence and curiosity in how he prepares behind the scenes. Taillon pointed to how the lefty has leaned on the entirety of the Cubs’ staff and players for input and guidance, as opposed to arriving with a rigid routine based on his success overseas.  That has helped him go 8-2 with a 2.97 ERA in his first 17 starts, piling up 98 strikeouts against just 16 walks in 97 innings. Imanaga took home the NL Rookie of the Month Award for April and then set a record for the lowest ERA (0.84) for a pitcher’s first nine career starts.

“Obviously I was trying to fit in,” Imanaga said via his interpreter, Edwin Stanberry. “But the fact that everybody — the support staff, my teammates — just they were willing to accept me, I think that feeling was a lot bigger than my want to fit in. The environment of that, allowing me to fit in super easily, I think that helped a lot.” (J Bastian - MLB.com - July 15, 2024)

Sept 4, 2024: Shota Imanaga read the expression on Cubs manager Craig Counsell’s face as he approached the pitcher in the dugout on Wednesday night and sensed an unfamiliar look of concern. This was different from the usual quick conversation and handshake at the conclusion of a strong start.

“He looked a little worried,” Imanaga said via interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “So, I was figuring out what was going on. That’s when I learned.”  Imanaga learned that he had spun seven no-hit innings against the Pirates, but even with that realization the pitcher trusted his manager’s decision. In the end, the Cubs lefty got to share the spotlight with relievers Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge, who teamed with Imanaga for the 18th no-hitter in franchise history in a 12-0 victory over Pittsburgh. (J Bastian - MLB.com - Sept 5, 2024)

TRANSACTIONS

Jan 10, 2024: The Cubs signed via scout Shinsuke Yokote to a four-year, $53 million contract. The contract guarantees $53 million over four seasons, but the pact gives the pitcher and ballclub multiple paths forward. After the 2025 and ‘26 seasons, Chicago will have the option to extend the deal to five years ($80 million total). If the deal is not extended in either offseason, Imanaga will have the right to elect free agency.  

2018-19 Season: Imanaga signed with the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League to play Weeks 2-7 of the 2018–19 Australian Baseball League season.

In his six starts for the Cavalry, he posted a 4–0 win–loss record with a league best 0.51 earned run average (ERA) over 35 innings pitched with 57 strikeouts to one walk. By meeting the statistical recognition minimum (0.8 IP per team game), Imanaga broke the league records for WHIP (0.429), H/9 (3.6), BB/9 (0.3) and second best ERA behind Ryan Searle.

Following his ABL stint, Imanaga posted a 13–7 2.91 ERA, 2019 Nippon Professional Baseball season, finishing second in wins and strikeouts only behind Shun Yamaguchi in the Central League.

2023 Season in NPB - Pitch Usage/Avg. Velo: Fastball 52% - 94.3 mph; Slider 19% - 82.4 mph; Split 17% - 84 mph; Curve 7% - 73 mph; Cutter 5.6% - 90.3 mph.

June 7, 2022: Imanaga pitched a no-hitter against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

2016-23: He has a career record of 64-50 with a 3.18 ERA in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, having played with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars since 2016.

If you ignore Imanaga’s height and arm slot and just look at the characteristics of his fastball, it sure looks like a Madison Bumgarner four-seamer. But for a pitch that’s thrown more than 50 percent of the time, it doesn’t get a ton of whiffs when batters swing — just 21.2 percent, according to Baseball Data House. That would rank 22nd in MLB, which isn’t bad, but we can assume that the swinging strike rate will go down once he’s actually pitching in MLB.

It’s a good thing that he has outstanding complementary pitches, then. His splitter is nasty, getting whiffs on 42 percent of swings against it, and his slider isn’t far behind, with a 35.9 percent swinging strike rate. The splitter whiff rate is comparable to Kevin Gausman’s, and the slider was close to Clayton Kershaw’s. Again, those numbers will drop in MLB, but probably not by that much.

He even has a Zack Greinke-like eephus curve that he’ll float in for a strike every so often, which sounds amazingly entertaining. All of this added up to the highest strikeout rate in the Central League last season and the fifth-highest strikeout rate overall. If you’re assuming that he’s a solid, command-and-control lefty, someone like Eduardo Rodriguez or Martín Pérez, that might be underrating him.

Imanaga has excellent control, too, walking 2.4 batters per nine innings over his career, but improving that to 1.6 over the last two seasons. (Brisbee - Dec 19, 2023 - The Athletic)

In 2023, Imanaga dominated in Japan, at least when it came to strikeouts and walks. He struck out 29.5 percent of the batters he faced and walked just 3.7 percent — numbers superior to Yamamoto’s, and ones that would absolutely hang with the best pitchers in MLB last season. In terms of pitches, Imanaga has great stuff despite some up-and-down velocity. He led WBC starters in Stuff+, and poking under the hood, we can see why.

The four-seam fastball he threw in that tournament would have had the most ride of any four-seamer in MLB last season, and he released it from a low 5.5-foot release point that would be a full 10 inches lower than the average of the top 10 fastballs in ride last year. A high-spin fastball thrown from a low release point, that doesn’t drop as much as the batter expects — this four-seamer creates all sorts of plane issues for hitters. 

If we go by Stuff+, his was the best fastball thrown in the WBC by a starter, and that was a competition that also featured the triple-digit heater of Roki Sasaki, as well as Shohei Ohtani’s nasty four-seamer and the power sinker Sandy Alcantara threw. With nine-plus inches of sweep, Imanaga’s slider was a Top 10 Stuff+ slider among starters in that tournament. 

His splitter also rated well, giving him three plus pitches by shape and velocity. Add that to superior strikeout and walk results in Japan, and you’ve got your reasons why plenty of teams were interested in signing him. 

Imanaga is 30 years old and, at 5-10, on the short side. He has averaged only around 150 innings in Japan in the last three years. He may not be a workhorse. But there are some asterisks: Japanese pitchers typically only throw once a week and don’t put up the same volume, and Imanaga’s injury history is mostly clean, other than a shoulder injury in 2020. (Sarris - Jan 10, 2024 - The Athletic)

FAST START IN 2024

April 26, 2024: Imanaga is the first starter since Dave Ferriss of the Red Sox in 1945 to go 4-0 or better with an ERA below 1.00 in his first five career games.

W/L in Imanaga starts: 23-6 (.793)
W/L in all other starts: 60-73 (.451)

Despite making the difficult NPB-to-MLB jump, Imanaga didn't miss a beat this year, more or less carrying the dominance he had for years in Japan with him into the first year of his big-league career, emerging as the team's stopper atop the rotation.

With 29 starts and just 28 walks on the year, Imanaga is just the sixth pitcher in Cubs history to start at least 20 games and have fewer walks than starts, joining a trio of Hall of Famers in Grover Alexander, Fergie Jenkins and Dennis Eckersley, as well as Doug Bird and Jon Lieber.

Imanaga led Cubs starters in almost every statistical measure: wins, ERA, starts (tied with Javier Assad), innings pitched, strikeouts and WHIP. He also led all Cubs pitchers in home runs allowed (27), something that was singled out as a cause for concern prior to the year. Thanks to his ability to prevent self-inflicted damage via the walk, though, he was able to overcome the long balls and thrive on the mound. (Jake Misener - Sept. 30, 2024)