'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
Pentagon vows to keep weapons moving to Ukraine as Kyiv faces a renewed assault by Russia
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin committed Monday to keeping U.S. weapons moving to2024-05-21Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry rally to win Zurich Classic team event
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry received a standing ovation at historic, creole Fren2024-05-21Temples witness a transformation
Hongluo Temple in Beijing's Huairou district is known for its ginkgo trees. [Photo by Du Lianyi/2024-05-21Vanessa Feltz glams up in a chic green print tiered maxi dress as she attends the star
Vanessa Feltz radiated happiness as she arrived at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards on Sunday ni2024-05-21- DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets couldn’t quiet an epic second-half comeback by Minnesota or the noi2024-05-21
Messi scores in return as Miami held by Colorado
Lionel Messi scored on his return from injury as Inter Miami were held to a 2-2 home draw with Color2024-05-21
atest comment