CHICAGO — New starter Shota Imanaga instantly endeared himself to Cubs followers after taking the stage for his introductory information convention Friday.
“Hey Chicago,” Imanaga mentioned in English. “What do you say? The Cubs are going to win at present.”
It was an early clue into his character as Imanaga, 30, begins his MLB profession after signing a four-year, $53 million contract with the Cubs this week. If he pitches effectively, the Cubs have the choice, after his second and third season, to increase that contract out to 5 years and $80 million.
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Often known as the Pitching Thinker in Japan, Imanaga hopes to enhance on his sport after getting a style of the most important stage when he competed within the World Baseball Traditional for Japan final spring.
“I am not a completed product,” Imanaga mentioned via his interpreter, Shingo Murata. “There’s lots for me to study. My strategy in that method earned me that nickname.”
Added Cubs president Jed Hoyer: “He is very curious. He desires to get higher. That seems like an ideal match for the Cubs.”
Imanaga is on the smaller aspect at 5-foot-10 and throws a rising fastball at a mean of 92 mph. However it’s misleading, and the Cubs are hoping it stays within the ballpark, particularly when the climate is favorable to pitchers.
Hoyer personally scouted Imanaga in September however knew a deal would in all probability occur late in his 45-day signing window, which closed Thursday.
“We knew the method had a deadline,” Hoyer mentioned. “It acquired actually severe in direction of the tip of the window. We knew this may come again right down to the tip.”
The Cubs could have had a leg up in signing the left-hander as he was based mostly in Chicago throughout his free agent interval. He did not even go to different cities, preferring to do Zoom conferences. Ultimately, Imanaga is staying the place he started the method.
“I am very excited to pitch at Wrigley Subject,” Imanaga mentioned. “I am wanting ahead to assembly followers and teammates.
“Go Cubs go.”
