'Constantly learning' Imanaga off to impressive start with the Chicago Cubs
CHICAGO (AP) — The road for Shota Imanaga from Japan to the major leagues included at least one sharp observation that has served him well in his transition to life with the Chicago Cubs.
“Watching foreign players in Japan and how they try to figure out how to get support from the fans, essentially I’m just doing the opposite of that, coming over here,” Imanaga said through a translator. “It was something I thought about.”
From his entertaining pitching style to his trips to Dunkin’ Donuts — “Either I order a small iced latte or a medium,” he said — Imanaga has moved with a purpose in his acclimation to the big leagues. And he is making it look easy at the moment.
Relying on a deceptive four-seam fastball that he usually locates at the top of the strike zone, along with a splitter that plays at the bottom, Imanaga is 5-0 with a 0.84 ERA for the contending Cubs. The left-hander also has 58 strikeouts and nine walks in 53 2/3 innings — thrusting himself into the early conversation for NL Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award.
Related articles
Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. to lead Indianapolis 500 field in Corvette pace car
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. will drive the pace car for the 108th ru2024-05-21Welcome to Wrexham is officially renewed for a fourth season
Hit documentary series 'Welcome to Wrexham' has been officially renewed for a fourth season.The grip2024-05-21Kate Upton is a blonde bombshell in skintight black dress and sky
Kate Upton looked like a blonde bombshell as she arrived at the starry 2024 Disney Upfront showcase2024-05-21Rory McIlroy says PGA Tour is 'worse off' without Jimmy Dunne on board
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Rory McIlroy believes the potential for a deal between the PGA Tour and the S2024-05-21Four people killed in a house explosion in southwestern Missouri
GOODHOPE, Mo. (AP) — Four people in rural Missouri died when an explosion that could be heard 10 mil2024-05-21Palestinians recount painful history with war in Gaza as a reminder
Dawud Assad still has nightmares of the day Jewish militias attacked his village of Deir Yassin outs2024-05-21
atest comment