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.
US overdose deaths dropped in 2023, the first time since 2018
Ancient Town Boosts Local Cultural Tourism in Mangshi City, SW China
Chongqing Launches Variety of Activities at Nighttime to Boost Night Economy
Messi in and Dybala out in Argentina squad for pre
Spring Tea Picking Starts in Pu'er City, China's Yunnan
China to Hold over 12,000 Cultural Activities During Spring Festival
Activities Held to Celebrate Upcoming Latern Festival Across China
‘The Blue Angels,’ filmed for IMAX, puts viewers in the ‘box’ with the elite flying squad
Yuntai Mountain Hanfu Huazhao Festival Kicks off in C China's Henan
What's next for Iran after death of its president in crash?
China Focus: Martial Arts Growing in Popularity Among Young Chinese