Shota Imanaga wrapped up his first season in MLB with the Chicago Cubs. After going under the radar in the offseason, Imanaga was one of the biggest shocks of the 2024 season and a pleasant surprise for a Cubs team that needed to rely heavily on their starting rotation. Imanaga signed with the Chicago Cubs in the shadow of another Japanese starter who came to MLB this season, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Compared to the Dodgers’ hurler, Imanaga signed a modest deal to contribute to the Cubs pitching staff and ascended to the top of the rotation.
Before Paul Skenes’s emergence and Jackson Merrill’s improvement, Imanaga was leading the clubhouse in NL ROY consideration with a sparkling ERA and an ability to fool hitters with his nasty split-fingered changeup. After some bumpy starts in the middle of the year, the southpaw finished strong for the Cubs down the season’s final stretch and ended up with a 15-3 record, 2.91 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 3.1 WAR across 173 1/3 innings in 29 starts, making his first campaign on the north side of Chicago a success.
Lowkey Lefty in Chicago
The Chicago Cubs 2023 offseason was a letdown for many fans. They were hoping for big acquisitions to help lift the team into the playoffs after missing out by one game in the regular season. While the moves weren’t enough to get the Cubs into October, they did have one of the better off-season signings when they inked Japanese left-handed starter Shota Imanaga to a contract.
Imanaga was not the stellar signing the Cubs would later find out he has turned out to be. Most of the headlines were grabbed by the Los Angeles Dodgers signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the largest contract ever given to a pitcher, less yet a pitcher who hasn’t thrown one pitch in MLB. Imanaga, though, pitched like the $325 million man in 2024. The Cubs were able to sign the 30-year-old southpaw to a five-year deal with a two-year, $30M base. The deal turned out to be a bargain for Chicago and one they needed to make as 2024 unfolded.
Quick Ascension for Imanaga
Between injuries and lackluster performances with other starters on the Chicago staff, Imanaga quickly became the ace of the Cubs pitching rotation, moving up past Justin Steele, Jordan Wicks, and Kyle Hendricks. To start the year, Imanaga had nine outings allowing two or fewer runs, with the Cubs only losing one of those games. The worries about lack of velocity and home run susceptibility were absent from the mound when Shota was throwing.
After displaying a vast repertoire of pitches in Japan, Imanaga relied heavily on his four-seam fastball/split-finger change combination to get outs. Hitters were baffled from the get-go and couldn’t deal with the rookie’s command and unpredictability. Imanaga also took on more of a burden for the pitching staff, increasing his pitch count and innings output in his starts throughout the season, exhibiting durability the team would desperately need as they traversed the chaos of the rest of the starting rotation.
New Ace for Chicago Cubs
With Imanaga’s success as a 30-year-old rookie, the expectations for 2025 have already become lofty. Through his translator, Imanaga has said that he will expand his pitch repertoire next year to deal with hitters who have now had a season to see him. After coming in and being expected to contribute at the bottom of the rotation, Imanaga will have a different role to start next season. When the Cubs are again looking to leap into the playoffs, it will be Shota Imanaga at the top of the rotation trying to get them there.
The changes that Imanaga says he will make to adjust in 2025 have fans awaiting more dominant outings from the Japanese hurler, and those are starts that the Cubs will be relying heavily on. His fastball/change-up mix was a deadly combo in 2024 and baffled most hitters for much of the season. His ability to dance around baserunners and stay ahead of batters was critical to his success. If there is anything to worry about with Imanaga looking forward to 2024, it is his HR Allowed tally of 27, making him 12th in MLB.
The question marks about Imanaga’s tendency to give up the long ball date back to when the Cubs signed him before the season, and despite the total, if you would’ve told Cubs fans that Shota would produce the 15-3 record, 2.91 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 3.1 WAR across 173 1/3 innings he put out on the mound in 29 starts, they would deal with the home runs, especially considering that the Cubs were 23-6 in Imanaga’s starts, a record that led MLB this season in winning percentage. 2024 was a dazzling rookie campaign for Shota Imanaga and one of the few bright spots for the Chicago Cubs this season.
For More Great Content
Craving top-tier content that covers it all? From electrifying sports highlights and insider entertainment news to expert gaming tips and sharp betting advice, we’ve got you covered. Dive into our curated articles to stay ahead of the game with the latest sports action, uncover the hottest trends in entertainment, and get the lowdown on gaming strategies that could level up your play. Plus, our betting advice will sharpen your edge and boost your chances of winning big. Whether you’re looking to stay updated or gain a competitive edge, our content is your go-to source for all things exciting and relevant. Don’t miss out; explore now and power up your knowledge! Follow us on Twitter/X @TotalApexSports to stay informed.
