MESA, Ariz. – When Shota Imanaga takes the Tokyo Dome mound subsequent month, because the Cubs open the season with a two-game sequence in opposition to the Dodgers, there can be followers within the stands who watched his rise in Nippon Skilled Baseball.
Eight years with the Yokohama DeNa Baystars preceded his spectacular rookie major-league season – when his success, expressive face, and humorousness made him a quick fan-favorite in Chicago.
However Imanaga, ever-humble, is aware of who most followers can be there to see.
“Shohei Ohtani and [Yoshinobu] Yamamoto, I feel they’re going to have loads larger cheers,” Imanaga mentioned of the Dodgers stars, by means of interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “However I need to inform the Japanese followers that hopefully they might cheer me and Seiya Suzuki on as a lot as they do with them.”
OK, possibly matching the perfect baseball participant on the earth in reception isn’t real looking. However might as properly ask.
Together with these 4 established Japanese major-league gamers on the Cubs and Dodgers, rookie Roki Sasaki signed with Los Angeles this offseason. The Cubs also pursued Sasaki, who was World Baseball Traditional teammates with Imanaga. They obtained an in-person assembly however didn’t make the ultimate three.
“I didn’t actually discuss to him in any respect,” Imanaga mentioned when requested if he tried to persuade him to affix the Cubs. “I’m only a man on the surface on this scenario. And it’s his determination.”
Imanaga went by means of the posting course of simply final offseason, to land with the Cubs.
He was historically good through his first nine starts and went on to complete fifth in Nationwide League Cy Younger voting and fourth in Rookie of the Yr. He had the perfect ERA (2.91) within the Cubs rotation and fourth-best stroll fee (4.0%) amongst certified major-league pitchers. He exceeded even the Cubs’ expectations.
Imanga’s humility, nonetheless, extends to his analysis of final season.
“I’ve to surrender fewer house runs,” he mentioned Monday. “I must get my strikeouts numbers greater. Which means the standard of the begins are going to be higher. So all these, I found out, OK, that is what I must work on for the subsequent season.”
He cited his and Yamamoto’s wins above alternative off the highest of his head. Imanga had a 3.0-fWAR final season, in comparison with Yamamoto’s 2.8.
“He threw much less innings, however his WAR was fairly near mine,” Imanga mentioned. “And a man like Paul Skeens – his WAR was unbelievable.”
It’s true, Imanaga threw 173 1/3 innings, whereas Yamamoto was restricted to 90 due to a strained rotator cuff. However in his feedback, Imanaga didn’t give himself credit score for staying wholesome all season.
Skenes (4.3 fWAR) received NL Rookie of the Yr, after debuting with the Pirates on Could 11 – in opposition to the Cubs, because it so occurred. However amongst rookie pitchers, Imanaga had the next-highest WAR.
“That’s so refreshing to have a man who’s had success and in addition needs to proceed to get higher,” pitching coach Tommy Hottovy mentioned, “however is aware of what his basis is and what’s going to make him profitable.”
After making a easy transition to MLB, navigating a myriad of changes on and off the sector, Imanaga will start his sophomore MLB marketing campaign in his house nation. And he has some concepts for these of his teammates who can be experiencing Japan for the primary time.
“There’s clearly sushi right here [in the United States],” Imanaga mentioned. “And I would like my teammates, the workers, to check out sushi over there. After which they’ll examine and see the distinction between the 2.”
