Shota brings philosophical approach, renewed focus to important spring

MESA, Ariz. -- Shota Imanaga would love nothing more than to return to the form that he displayed in his sensational rookie campaign two seasons ago. And while the Cubs pitcher does hope to produce at a similar level this year, he also knows chasing a previous version of himself can be a potential trap.

“Instead of focusing on what I had in the past,” Imanaga said at Spring Training via his interpreter, Edwin Stanberry, “it’s just how to be a better version of what I am right now.”

A reporter quipped that was a pretty philosophical approach from a pitcher known as “The Throwing Philosopher” in Japan. When that was translated back to Imanaga on Thursday morning, he smiled and pointed to his head.

“Smart,” Imanaga said in English.

That was one of the reasons the Cubs were intrigued by Imanaga when they signed him prior to the 2024 season. This was a veteran starter who excelled in Japan and built a reputation for combining skill with acumen. Imanaga has shown that within his two years in Chicago, but the conclusion to his ‘25 tour has him facing an important spring and campaign ahead.

Imanaga’s struggles down the stretch culminated in the Cubs opting against using him in the decisive Game 5 of the National League Division Series defeat to the Brewers. The pitcher and team then went through a contractual back and forth that ended with Imanaga accepting a one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer to stay with the Cubs in ‘26.

There will be no shortage of motivation for Imanaga this year.

“Look, he is going to respond kind of to the things that happened at the end of the year,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “He wasn’t happy [with] how he pitched. That’s what great competitors do -- they respond to things like that. And he will absolutely respond, and I’m very confident in that.”

The Cubs already have seen what Imanaga can do when he is right.

During the ‘24 season, Imanaga made the All-Star team, finished 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA overall and garnered down-ballot votes for both the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year. Imanaga earned the Opening Day nod last year and began with four no-hit innings in front of a global audience in the Tokyo Series against the Dodgers.

The lefty looked on pace for another standout showing, but a left hamstring injury on May 4 cost him seven weeks on the shelf and, in turn, impacted his performance down the stretch. Imanaga allowed 20 home runs in his final 12 starts, posting a 5.17 ERA in that span. He then posted an 8.10 ERA with three home runs allowed over 6 2/3 innings in his two playoff appearances.

“I talked to Counsell after the season last year,” Imanaga said. “We talked about how, first year, it went well. Second year, you get punched in the mouth and you've got to make your adjustments. There was some kind of thoughts of worry, but the best thing is, ‘How can I get better?’”

Without his driving leg at full strength, the mechanics with his upper body were slightly off. As pitching coach Tommy Hottovy detailed in November, Imanaga worked hard to regain velocity and get his release point back up to its ideal position by the end of the year, but his command suffered in the process.

“It’s all very subtle,” Counsell said. “But very subtle things can get you off track, and sometimes you need to step back a little bit to see that.”

Once the contract situation was resolved, Imanaga sent Hottovy and the Cubs’ pitching group videos from his training in Japan consistently over the offseason. The pitcher focused on strengthening his lower half in the winter months, so he could get back to the delivery cues that have worked for him on the big league stage.

That process will continue this spring, while Hottovy also teams with the pitcher on adjusting his pitch repertoire. While the fastball and splitter are Imanaga’s calling card, Hottovy said the goal is to keep honing a sweeper from his “natural arm slot,” while reintroducing the pitcher’s cutter and finding a sinker grip that helps maintain velocity.

Helping the process is Imanaga’s decision not to pitch for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic this spring.

“I think it just shows you his commitment,” Hottovy said, “to what he wants to do this year, not only with us, but for his career and what he’s focused on. ... He’s put in some work -- there’s no doubt about that. And I think he’s excited to get to showcase more this spring.”