Shota Imanaga. Courtesy: MLB
The Chicago Cubs made their first huge splash of MLB free agency last week, signing Japanese left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga to a four-year deal, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
The deal is worth four-years, $53 million dollars with a fifth year option. The pitcher from Japan was happy to sign with the Cubs.
“Go Cubs Go,” said Imanaga, singing with a serious face the team’s post game theme song, played after every win during the season, at his press conference via several social media outlets. “Hey, Chicago! What do you say! The Cubs are going to win today!”
According to his bio, Imagana was selected by the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in the first round of the 2015 NPB draft out of Komazawa University.
The elite pitcher signed with the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League to play weeks 2-7 of the 2018–19 Australian Baseball League season his bio states. 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 (0.8IP 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, added his bio.
Imagana Bio Highlights:
On June 7, 2022, Imanaga pitched a no-hitter against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. On September 6, 2023, Yokohama announced they would post Imanaga to Major League Baseball (MLB) following the 2023 season.
Imanaga represented the Japan national baseball team in the 2019 exhibition games against Mexico and 2019 WBSC Premier12.
Imanaga played for the Japanese national team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, and started the championship game in which Japan won 3-2, says his bio.
Joseph Phillips is the Sports Editor for the Chicago Crusader Newspaper. He is a Chicago native, who has been a sports writer for over 17 years. He also hosts the SC Media News and Sports Network Q&A radio show on WHPK 88.5 FM Chicago.
