WATCH: Shota Imanaga excited for Cubs teammates to experience Japan |
Tony Crumpton
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- 18 hours ago
Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga speaks after his March 10 Cactus League spring training start against the Cleveland Guardians about how he felt from the first inning to the second, his goals for his final start, if he feels ready for his first start of the 2025 MLB season in Tokyo, and much more.
Watch the interview below:
Video summary/cliff-notes:
(00:05) Imanaga discusses his pitching approach and acknowledges mistakes in pitch selection and placement during different appearances.
(01:10) His goal was to throw around 70 pitches and focus on increasing mound appearances to build endurance. He recognizes the fatigue from longer innings.
(02:12) He feels he still has areas to improve before the Tokyo opener, with a week left for adjustments.
(03:15) When facing Ohtani, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balanced approach and not over-focusing on one player.
(04:19) Pitching in Japan for an MLB game will be a unique experience for him, different from his time pitching there in NPB.
(05:22) He is excited for teammates to experience Japan and hopes they appreciate the country and culture.
(06:27) Facing Ohtani in Japan is significant for him, as he never pitched against him in NPB, making this a new challenge.
(07:32) Reflecting on the WBC, he sees it as a learning experience that pushed him to improve against top-tier competition.
(08:39) He appreciated the comedic performance for the team, believing it helped teammates better understand and respect Japanese culture.
(09:44) He recalls competing against Mexican players in the WBC and recognizes their talent, mentioning former teammates.
