'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
Uber and Lyft say they'll stay in Minnesota after Legislature passes driver pay compromise
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Uber and Lyft plan to keep operating in Minnesota after the state Legislature2024-05-21Advocates push states to save foster children's federal benefits, not spend them
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — By the time Jesse Fernandez turned 18, the federal government had paid ou2024-05-21Hapoel Jerusalem win Israel's basketball State Cup
Champions League club Hapoel Jerusalem beat EuroLeague side Maccabi Tel Aviv 85-72 in the Israeli St2024-05-21Shenzhen overwhelms Shandong, Shanghai beats Fujian
The Shenzhen Leopards beat the Shandong Heroes 106-95, while the Shanghai Sharks edged the Fujian St2024-05-21Amir Khan's £11.5m luxury wedding venue finally hosts its first marriage: Bride arrives on horse
Amir Khan's £11.5million luxury wedding venue has finally hosted its first marriage after a series o2024-05-21- Anya Taylor-Joy stunned in a green mini dress with an eye-catching accessory as she and Chris Hemswo2024-05-21
atest comment