{"id":600189,"date":"2026-03-01T18:12:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-01T18:12:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/600189\/"},"modified":"2026-03-01T18:12:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T18:12:17","slug":"chicago-cubs-feeling-good-about-recent-shota-imanaga-developments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/600189\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Cubs feeling good about recent Shota Imanaga developments"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Cubs had a roller coaster offseason with pitcher Shota Imanaga following Imanaga\u2019s roller coaster 2025 season.<\/p>\n

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After a stellar 2024 debut that won him some Rookie of the Year consideration, the Japanese star had an uneven and generally disappointing sophomore year. Despite his overall numbers looking respectable on paper (9-8, 3.73 ERA over 25 starts and 144.2 innings), Imanaga never quite got back on track after an early-May hamstring injury, the first lower-body injury of his career. By the end of the season, he was getting hit hard. He gave up 20 of his 31 home runs in his final 12 starts and posted a 6.51 ERA in the month of September.<\/p>\n

In the playoffs, Imanaga really struggled, posting an 8.10 ERA in two shortened outings versus the Padres and Brewers. By the end of the NLDS against Milwaukee, manager Craig Counsell had seemingly lost faith in the lefty and chose to bypass him on his last scheduled start.<\/p>\n

The struggles left him feeling down on himself.<\/p>\n

Imanaga on 2025 struggles: \u201cI felt ashamed\u201d
\n\"ShotaOct 1, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) leaves the mound for a pitching change after giving up a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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\u201cAfter we lost, I went to the locker room to clean up,\u201d Imanaga recalled in his podcast<\/a>, regarding his final poor outing of the postseason. \u201cI thought fans might be harsh because I didn\u2019t perform well in the postseason, but some said \u2018Thank you for letting us enjoy this season.\u2019 I felt ashamed I let them down and wished I could have shared the joy of winning with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rough 2025 led to the Cubs making some tough contract-related decisions regarding the 32-year-old.<\/p>\n

Chicago declined their three-year, $57.75 million club option on him, which led to Imanaga declining his $15.25 million player option for 2026. Facing free agency, Imanaga instead accepted the Cubs qualifying offer of $22 million for the 2026 season.<\/p>\n

The full-speed comeback
\n\"ChicagoFeb 24, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) makes the play for an out against the San Diego Padres in the second inning at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Now, back as a Cub for at least one more season, he\u2019s reportedly fully healthy and focused on reclaiming the mojo he had in his rookie year.<\/p>\n

Along with the health and determination, his velocity is reportedly back up and as strong as it\u2019s ever been.<\/p>\n

The low-key Counsell called the development \u201ca little bit of a big deal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you go back on the game logs of Shota, that\u2019s kind of the high end of his velocity in any game log \u2014 spring training, regular season,\u201d Counsell told reporters<\/a>. \u201cThat\u2019s always encouraging. It\u2019s a sign that you\u2019re feeling really good. It\u2019s a sign that your offseason went really well. It\u2019s the adjustments you\u2019ve made.\u201d<\/p>\n

Imanaga having extra zip on his fastball will make his offspeed pitches more off-putting and difficult to time, a factor that caught hitters off guard in his first MLB season.<\/p>\n

Words of inspiration
\n\"ChicagoFeb 11, 2026; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) throws long toss during spring training camp at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The former Yokohama DeNA BayStars ace is apparently not hung up on the offseason contractual tussle he had with the Cubs and is, instead, eager to get things back on track and have a productive 2026. He\u2019s giving Counsell a tip of the cap for inspiration in getting back in the right frame of mind.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Counsell said) in the first season I punched MLB, and then the second season MLB punched back,\u201d Imanaga told Marquee Sports Network<\/a> via interpreter. \u201cBut he made it simple, all you have to really do is stand back up.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo looking bat at it, yes, I did get punched in the second year. But, just looking at it, what do I need to do to stand back up? What do I need to do to keep moving forward. So, I think it was a good mindset that he gave me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Imanaga is slated to be somewhere in the deep Cubs rotation, among names such as Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, and a soon-to-be-returning Justin Steele.<\/p>\n

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