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.
Britain's new bonkers EV: Callum Skye is an £80k electric buggy built in Warwickshire
Across China: Competition in SW China's Chongqing Inspires Students to Innovate, Start businesses
Tea Industry Cultivated to Boost Local Farmers' Income in SW China
Peony Cultural Tourism Festival Kicks off in Wuding, SW China's Yunnan
Why US Catholics are planning pilgrimages in communities across the nation
China's 10th National Public Ice and Snow Season launched
Chongqing Launches Variety of Activities at Nighttime to Boost Night Economy
More Women Elected to Sit as NPC Deputies
Ben Whishaw lights up the Croisette as he joins his co
China's 10th National Public Ice and Snow Season launched
Target to lower prices on basic goods in response to inflation
Miao People Participate in Traditional Dancing Activity in SW China's Guizhou