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.
‘The Blue Angels,’ filmed for IMAX, puts viewers in the ‘box’ with the elite flying squad
From the fabulous 'Elvis Dress' to the velvet gown she wore dancing with Travolta
KEIR STARMER: My commitment to the UK's nuclear deterrent is... Unshakeable. Absolute. Total
EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Could William and Harry be reunited at the Duke of Westminster's wedding?
Georgia Republicans choose Amy Kremer, organizer of pro
Sandringham House is filled with the spirit of the King's gentle
What is happening with the NZ housing market this week?
British POW who was tortured with electric shocks, beaten and starved by Putin's troops in five
Siblings trying to make US water polo teams for Paris Olympics
Weather: Heavy rain warnings for Westland, Fiordland, Otago headwaters from Tuesday
Kate Hudson hits the stage to debut songs from her new album Glorious at star
Former footballer Joe Thompson, 35, is diagnosed with cancer for the third time