Shōta Imanaga
Imanaga with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars
Chicago Cubs – No. 18
Pitcher
Born: (1993-09-01) September 1, 1993
Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
NPB debut
March 29, 2016, for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars
NPB statistics
(through 2023)
Win–loss record64–50
Earned run average3.18
Strikeouts1,021
Teams
Career highlights and awards
NPB
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
World Baseball Classic
Gold medal – first place 2023 Miami Team
WBSC Premier12
Gold medal – first place 2019 Tokyo Team

Shōta Imanaga (今永 昇太, Imanaga Shōta, born September 1, 1993), nicknamed "The Throwing Philosopher", is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.

Career

Yokohama DeNA BayStars

The Yokohama DeNA BayStars selected Imanaga in the first round of the 2015 NPB draft out of Komazawa University.[1]

Imanaga signed with the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League to play weeks 2-7 of the 2018–19 Australian Baseball League season[2] 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.

On June 7, 2022, Imanaga pitched a no-hitter against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.[3]

On September 6, 2023, Yokohama announced that they would post Imanaga to Major League Baseball (MLB) following the 2023 season.[4]

Chicago Cubs

On January 11, 2024, Imanaga signed a four-year, $53 million contract with the Chicago Cubs that also contained a fifth–year option.[5]

International career

Imanaga represented the Japan national baseball team in the 2019 exhibition games against Mexico and 2019 WBSC Premier12.[6][7]

Imanaga played for the Japanese national team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, and started the championship game in which Japan won 3-2.[8]

Playing style

Imanaga is a 5 ft 10 in, 190 pounds left-handed pitcher.[9] He has a fastball averaging nearly 92 mph (tops out at 96 mph[10]),[11][12] changeup, curveball and slider in his repertoire.[13] He is not an overpowering hurler but finds success with his command and changeup.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "2015年 新人選手選択会議(ドラフト会議) 横浜DeNAベイスターズ 選択選手一覧". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese).
  2. ↑ "Japanese Major League Players Join the Cavalry". 13 October 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  3. ↑ "BayStars Shota Imanaga hurls no-hitter as Fighters lose five straight". 8 June 2022.
  4. ↑ "MLB Rumors: Shōta Imanaga to Be Posted in Free Agency; Won Gold with Japan at WBC". syndication.bleacherreport.com. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  5. ↑ Bastain, Jordan (January 11, 2024). "Cubs finalize 4-year deal with Japanese lefty Imanaga". Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  6. ↑ "ENEOS 侍ジャパンシリーズ2019「日本 vs メキシコ」に出場するメンバー28名が決定". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  7. ↑ "「ENEOS 侍ジャパンシリーズ2019」出場選手決定について". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). October 1, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Japan starting Imanaga over Ohtani or Darvish in WBC final vs. United States". Sportsnet.ca. 2023-03-16. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  9. ↑ 一般社団法人日本野球機構. "今永 昇太（横浜DeNAベイスターズ） | 個人年度別成績". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  10. ↑ "【侍ジャパン】第２先発・今永昇太が３回１失点、毎回の３奪三振と好投 最速１５４キロを計測". スポーツ報知 (in Japanese). 2023-03-10. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  11. ↑ "BayStars southpaw Shota Imanaga drawing interest from MLB teams". The Japan Times. 2023-11-13. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  12. ↑ "Shota Imanaga: To be posted this offseason". CBSSports.com. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  13. ↑ Connon, Sam (2023-09-06). "Japanese Pitcher Shōta Imanaga Will Reportedly Be Posted to MLB Teams This Offseason". Fastball. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  14. ↑ "Yokohama DeNa Baystars To Post Shota Imanaga". MLB Trade Rumors. 2023-09-06. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
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