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.
Elon Musk gets approval from FDA to implant his Neuralink brain chip into a second patient
President sets key targets for financial sector
Craze for Masters gnomes grows. The little golf
President sets key targets for financial sector
Jon Wysocki dead at 53: Staind drummer passes away
Hetmyer seals IPL thriller for Rajasthan Royals over Punjab Kings
Xi: Advance cause pioneered by Mao
Dallas doctor convicted of tampering with IV bags linked to coworker's death
Siblings trying to make US water polo teams for Paris Olympics
Socialite Jasmine Hartin enjoys beach snuggle with electrician hunk
Kingsley Coman adds to Bayern Munich injury list and a doubt for Champions League match