'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
Ben Whishaw lights up the Croisette as he joins his co
Ben Whishaw was all smiles at the world premiere of Limonov: The Ballad at the 77th annual Cannes Fi2024-05-21Robert Kennedy Jr apologises to family over Super Bowl ad
Independent Presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr speaks during a campaign rally at Legends Eve2024-05-21Government mulls expanding inquiry into Covid
Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says the government has agreed to expand the scope of th2024-05-21Scrapping NZ battery project 'short
The Lake Onslow battery project was tipped to cost $16 billion. Photo:2024-05-21Minnesota Uber and Lyft driver pay package beats deadline to win approval in Legislature
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A plan to boost pay for Uber and Lyft drivers in Minnesota that lawmakers bel2024-05-21Japan launching new visa for digital nomads but will it be enough to solve its economic woes?
By Lachlan Bennett, ABCPeople walk across the Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo. Photo: Supplied/AFP2024-05-21
atest comment